While there is no legal obligation to provide a reference for an ex-employee, if any reference is inconsistent, you may land yourself in trouble! A recent case concerned an employee who had significant periods of absence from work due to her disability. She was subsequently made redundant and, as part of the settlement, a reference […]

Despite the press coverage following a Romanian ruling, employers cannot randomly monitor employee’s personal emails and messages without cause – especially where policies allow ‘some personal use’.  Employers must have clear policies on what personal use, if any, that they permit and when this can take place (eg only in breaks or outside normal working […]

The National Living Wage is being introduced in April 2016 and will be £7.20 ph for all employees aged 25 and over.  Penalties for non-compliance (for the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage) include 200% of the unpaid wages, a heavy fine and being named in the media as a guilty party! The ‘Living […]

Employees who have no fixed place of work now have their journey from home to the first client and from the last client to home classed as ‘working time’. Employers need to check whether the working time of such employees  is compliant with the Working Time Regulations and that they are receiving the appropriate rest […]

With effect from 1 October 2015, the National Minimum Wage increased to: £6.70 per hour for aged 21 and over £5.30 per hour for 18-20 year olds £3.87 per hour for 16-17 year olds £3.30 per hour for apprentices (if aged 19, applicable only to the first year of apprenticeship) Beware  – the penalties of […]