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Welcome to HR Today, the monthly newsletter from IntellectHR keeping you up-to-date with employment law changes and free HR services that our members are entitled to.
In addition to the newsletter, Intellect members have full access to our free IntellectHR service, providing you with web-based HR guidance including a full range of practical step-by-step guides, letters, forms, contracts, an employee handbook, and customisable policies.
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Review of 2008 and preview of 2009 |
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The pace of change continued throughout 2008 with some major changes in legislation. In addition to this, a number of interesting cases broadened our thinking - particularly with regard to discrimination.
Topics include recruitment, statutory holidays, working hours, family friendly rights, discrimination in all its forms, information and consultation, discipline and grievances, pay and the national minimum wage, pensions and retirement, unions, safeguarding of Vulnerable Groups Act, young people and training, agency workers, health and safety, Companies Act, tribunals, and redundancy.
Read the full story»
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Holiday pay for those on long-term sick leave |
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This has been a 'grey area' for some time, but the European Court of Justice (EJC) has now come to a decision on whether those on long-term sick leave should accrue holiday during their absence.
The ruling is that employees on long-term sick DO continue to accrue their full statutory holiday which they must be given the opportunity to take. Member states will decide whether this should be taken during the holiday year in question or carried over to another year.
Read the full story»
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Reminder of increases taking effect this month |
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From 01 February 2009: annual rise in compensation limits
And a reminder that in April 2009, the following will increase:
- the flat rate for maternity, paternity and adoption pay will be £123.06 (currently £117.18)
- the new rate for statutory sick pay will be £79.15 (currently £75.40) |
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Update for those who work with children and vulnerable adults |
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The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) is now responsible for making barring decisions on new referrals under the List 99, Proceeds of Crime Act and Protection of Vulnerable Adults barring lists concerning those working with children or vulnerable adults. Those with a duty to refer under the above schemes should send new referrals made on or after 20 January 2009 to a new referral address. |
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When do the statutory dispute procedures cease to apply? |
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06 April 2009 is the date the dispute resolution procedures will be repealed. But they will continue to apply if, on or before 05 April 2009, the procedures were applicable and the employer has either... |
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Changes to tribunal procedures |
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As from 06 April 2009, an employment judge can hear claims for holiday pay and Stage 1 equal value claims alone rather than the full three member tribunal being required for this. |
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Amendments to the draft Equality Bill |
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It has been reported that the draft Equality Bill is being amended to require private sector employers to publish gender pay statistics (previously the draft had only required public sector employers and private firms bidding for contracts awarded by the public sector to do this). |
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Personal accounts pensions schemes |
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Originally scheduled for some time in 2012, it would seem that the requirement for staff to be automatically enrolled into a pension scheme with employer contributions will start to apply from October 2012. |
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Foreign workers and business visitors from abroad |
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In order to employ a foreign worker you must apply to the UK Border Agency to become a registered sponsor and you will need to prove that there is no resident worker able to do the job. Some 4,875 businesses have now registered as sponsors of migrant workers. |
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Flexible working for all parents? Not quite... |
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As from 06 April 2009 the right to request flexible working will be extended to parents of children aged 16 and under. Currently, the right is restricted to parents of children under six (or disabled children under 18), and carers of adult (18+) dependants. |
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Some interesting cases |
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- Discrimination - religion/belief
- Discrimination - equal pay and length of service
- Disability discrimination - lack of knowledge of disability
- A further reminder - do check those cvs!
- Resignation and the right to withdraw
Read the full story»
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Cutting back on training may be more expensive in the long run |
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The British Safety Council is warning businesses that reducing costs by cutting back on health and safety training could endanger lives and cost companies dearly. Research conducted by them found that two out of three employers have had little or no health and safety training. Less than half of those surveyed had arranged a safety audit or had a health and safety management system in place.
Read the full story» |
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Health and Safety Offences Act |
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A reminder that as from 16 January 2009, the Health and Safety Offences Act has made imprisonment an option for many health and safety offences. The Act also raised the maximum penalties which lower courts can impose from £5,000 to £20,000, increased the range of offences for which an individual may be imprisoned and makes certain offences, which were previously only dealt with in the lower courts, able to be tried in both lower and higher courts.
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New documents |
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We've added the following this month:
- an extended range of TUPE letters, a letter inviting a pregnant employee to a meeting to prepare her risk assessment and explaining the process, letters acknowledging a speculative application and accepting a volunteer for redundancy Read more»
- an extended leave policy Read more»
- DOs and DON'Ts for managers on grievances (available to premium users only) Read more»
- Drivers Handbook (available to premium users only) Read more»
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Guides and advice |
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- Watch out for signs of stress
- How many job losses are there really?
- Pay increases
- Introducing TotalCare - a new combined HR, health and safety and insurance product
Read the full story» |
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