The XpertHR Podcast (UK): Recent Episodes
XpertHR.co.uk
Bringing you must-have employment law guidance and HR best practice - from the team behind XpertHR, the UK's leading online HR resource.
There have been many significant legislative shifts in relation to flexible working in recent years, of course, and under the Employment Rights Act 2025 we are promised further changes.
Charlotte Wiseman joins the podcast to look at the way flexible working is transforming employee expectations and workplace culture, and to offer some ideas about what best practice looks like in this new era.
Resources * The future of flexible working starts with HR * Employment Rights Act 2025 Hub * Flexible working: What strategy employers can adopt * How to lead HR planning for the Employment Rights Act 2025
Brightmine legal editor Lilia Dangi joins the podcast to talk through recent and upcoming trade union-related reforms under the Employment Rights Act 2025. She discusses how these changes are modernising industrial relations and rebalancing the relationship between employers and unions, and looks in particular at:
- the new duty to inform workers of their right to join a union;
- unions' right of access to the workplace; and
- the role of the Fair Work Agency.
Tune in to hear what employers need to know, and how these reforms could reshape the future of industrial relations.
Related resources
- Employment Rights Act 2025 hub
- Employment Rights Act 2025 trade union law changes - your questions answered
- The ERA era - takeaways from our trade union reforms roundtable
- How to lead HR planning for the Employment Rights Act 2025
- Webinar: Employment Rights Act 2025 - a user's guide
Some major changes are coming to the harassment laws in October. Global inequalities specialist – and licensed skipper – Georgie Williams joins the podcast to talk about what it's like to draw up an anti-harassment policy on a ship. What does it mean when you can't "clock off" and go home in the way you can with land-based office jobs? How does this change dynamics? What challenges does this raise?
Resources
- Sexual harassment risk assessment form
- How to lead HR planning for the Employment Rights Act 2025
- On your radar - Employment Rights Act 2025 updates and HR mythbusting
- Anti-harassment and anti-bullying policy
Organisation design expert and From-To founder Lilian Duckart joins Brightmine HR strategy and practice editor Laura Kimpton to discuss how HR departments can use organisation design to meet the changing needs of their business - and how AI can help.
Resources
- Leading practice guide - organisation design: What is it?
- How to lead HR planning for the Employment Rights Act 2025
- On your radar - Employment Rights Act 2025 updates and HR mythbusting
Research suggests that AI is making a nonsense of the traditional equivalence between output and productivity and creating a new category of worker: the person who is thriving themselves into exhaustion.
Jeremy Hollander joins the podcast to discuss how HR can tackle these issues by upgrading productivity measurements to distinguish sustainable high performance from intensity that is destined to end in burnout.
Related resources
- Webinar: Maximise HR efficiency - AI solutions that drive business growth and increase employee satisfaction
- Webinar: Mapping the path from Excel to AI - An expedition into people analytics
- AI fundamentals: How to identify AI needs in HR
- Use of AI chatbots at work policy
Pay gap reporting is about to get an important upgrade.
Michelle Gyimah, pay gap strategist and founder of Equality Pays, joins the podcast to break down what the Employment Rights Act 2025 changes really mean - and how HR can get ahead of the likely next wave: ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting.
Resources
How to measure and report a gender pay gap
How to lead HR planning for the Employment Rights Act 2025
On your radar - Employment Rights Act 2025 updates and HR mythbusting
With early pay awards showing signs of growth, Sheila Attwood joins the podcast to dig into what the data tells us about pay award plans for the year ahead, and how employers can navigate the growing tension between affordability and employee expectations.
Related resources Pay trends March 2026: Pay awards edge up in early 2026 but outlook remains cautious
Pay award forecasts for 2026
On your radar - Employment Rights Act 2025 hub
The Employment Rights Act 2025 marks a major shift in unfair dismissal law. From January 2027, the qualifying period will drop from two years to six months - applying retrospectively to employees hired from July 2026 - and the cap on compensatory awards will be removed altogether. Stephen Simpson, principal editor at Brightmine, joins the podcast to break down the changes and share practical steps HR should be taking now to prepare.
Related resources
How to manage probationary periods
How to lead HR planning for the Employment Rights Act 2025
On your radar - Employment Rights Act 2025 hub
Webinar: Employment Rights Act 2025 - a user's guide
Caroline Green, author of The Career Confidence Toolkit for Women, joins the podcast to discuss measures in the Government's Employment Rights Act 2025 - harassment and flexible working reforms, menopause action plans - and set out ways in which employers and employees alike can benefit from the forthcoming legislative changes.
Read the transcript
Related resources
HR for HR: The Employment Rights Act 2025 - will it improve the lives of women in the workplace?
How to lead HR planning for the Employment Rights Act 2025
On your radar - Employment Rights Act 2025 hub
Neurodiversity. Menopause. Men's health. What are organisations doing and what should they be doing to truly support the wellbeing of their people? Brightmine HR data insight analysts Hannah Mason and Vernujaa Nagandiram join the podcast to reveal surprising trends and share their latest research insights. Tune in now and discover what your organisation could be doing better - starting today.
Read the transcript
Related resources * Webinar: Supporting men's health in the workplace - a holistic approach to wellbeing * Workplace wellbeing: Who gets left behind? * Menopause policy * Model neurodiversity policy
What's on the horizon for HR and reward professionals in 2026?
In this episode, Brightmine experts Bar Huberman and Sheila Attwood break down the latest research and reveal the top priorities shaping the year ahead. Plus, CEO Scott Walker joins the conversation to explore one of the most transformative trends of recent years - AI in the workplace.
Tune in for actionable insights, expert analysis, and a look at what's next for HR strategy.
Related resources On your radar - Employment Rights Bill updates and HR mythbusting
How to lead HR planning for the Employment Rights Bill
Training guides and PowerPoint presentations: The complete list
Top HR priorities for 2026
Join the Brightmine team as they guide listeners through the Employment Rights Bill's bumpy journey through Parliament and offer practical advice on how HR professionals can prepare for the legislative changes expected to come into force in early 2024.
Stay ahead of the curve as our experts break down what's changing - from trade union rules and sick pay to family leave and whistleblowing protections - and get actionable tips to keep your organisation compliant.
Read the transcript
Resources
On your radar - Employment Rights Bill updates and HR mythbusting
How Lewis Silkin developed and rolled out its equalised new parent leave policy
Employment Rights Bill essentials: Statutory sick pay eligibility
With the Employment Rights Bill nearing the end of its journey through Parliament, Laura Merrylees, senior legal editor at Brightmine, is joined by Nick Chronias, a partner at DAC Beachcroft, to discuss the Bill's many trade union-related changes and provide a phase-by-phase guide to how HR departments can prepare for their implementation.
Read the transcript
Related resources Employment Rights Bill: 10 key policies employers need to revamp
On your radar: Employment Rights Bill updates and HR mythbusting
Podcast: Employment Rights Bill - where we are now, what to expect next
Webinar: Getting probationary periods right as Employment Rights Bill changes loom
Key takeaways * Phased rollout: Changes will begin two months after Royal Assent, with major reforms in April and October 2026, and final measures in 2027. * Union ballots: Unions will be able to organise industrial action ballots more easily, with less information required and a reduced notice period (from 14 to 10 days). The rule requiring 50% turnout is still being debated. * Union recognition: From April 2026, unions face lower hurdles for official recognition, including reduced membership and turnout thresholds. * Workplace access: Starting in October 2026, unions will gain rights to access workplaces (physically and digitally), with strict timelines for employer responses and agreements. * Informing staff: Employers must regularly inform employees of their right to join a union - new starters should get written statements, and existing staff receive annual reminders. * Protections for union activity: Employees and union reps will be protected from penalties (other than pay deductions) for participating in official industrial action. * Enforcement and consultations: Government consultations on these reforms are open until December 2025; breaches of access agreements may result in substantial fines (£75,000 per breach). * Employer impact: All employers should update policies and prepare for shorter timelines, new communication duties and increased union engagement.
Does your organisation provide fair and equal leave and pay for all new parents? The Government has launched a full 18-month review of family-related leave and the Employment Rights Bill is set to introduce some changes in this area.
In the meantime higher expectations among the workforce appear to be prompting organisations to take matters into their own hands and to develop ambitious new policies.
In this episode of the podcast Zeba Sayed, senior legal editor at Brightmine, talks to Becs Peedell, employment lawyer at Lewis Silkin, about her organisation's equal new parent policy - and how it is seeking to encourage other firms to follow suit.
Read the transcript
Resources Equalised new parent leave policy
How Lewis Silkin developed and rolled out its equalised new parent leave policy
Statutory neonatal care leave: What HR needs to know
On your radar - Employment Rights Bill updates and HR mythbusting
Key Takeaways * The podcast discusses UK parental leave, the newly launched Government review and law firm Lewis Silkin's equalised new parent leave policy. * UK statutory leave offers 52 weeks for mothers, 1-2 weeks for fathers, and shared parental leave, but uptake is low and policies are seen as outdated. * Lewis Silkin's policy gives all new parents up to 52 weeks' leave, with 26 weeks at full pay for those with a year's service. Leave can be taken flexibly. * The policy has seen high uptake, including among fathers, and has cost more than expected, but is viewed as a success for workplace equality. * The firm encourages other organisations to consider similar policies, emphasising stakeholder buy-in and operational planning.
Ro Carracedo Lopez, senior International legal editor at Brightmine, discusses the EU Pay Transparency Directive, how member states are adopting its provisions into national law and · not least · its implications for UK organisations with Wouter Heere, Associate at Littler Netherlands, and Rui Rego Soares, Associate lawyer at Littler Portugal.
Related resources
Global EU pay transparency directive implementation comparative table
Demystifying the EU Pay Transparency Directive for UK employers
Podcast: Gender pay gap reporting - a global view
Darren Newman joins us to unpack the complexities of the Employment Rights Bill, soon to become the Employment Rights Act. We explore the bill’s sweeping scope and discuss the practical implications for UK businesses. Listeners will gain expert insight into what’s coming, what remains uncertain and how HR teams can prepare for the most significant overhaul of employment law in decades.
Related resources On your radar - Employment Rights Bill updates and HR mythbusting
HR for HR: How to build strong relationships to deal with the Employment Rights Bill
Webinar: Getting probationary periods right as Employment Rights Bill changes loom
UK employment law is evolving - are you prepared? In our latest podcast, Susie Munro, senior legal editor at Brightmine, looks at three recent tribunal cases relating to probationary periods, and discusses the upcoming introduction of a day-one right to claim unfair dismissal.
We share actionable insights, real tribunal stories and practical steps to help your organisation stay compliant and competitive. Listen now to future-proof your HR strategy!
Read the transcript
Related resources
On your radar - Employment Rights Bill updates and HR mythbusting
Webinar: Getting probationary periods right as Employment Rights Bill changes loom
Probationary periods: Tribunal round-up
This episode of the Brightmine podcast features Shantha David, Head of Legal Services at UNISON, in conversation with Robert Shore and Laura Kimpton. We dive into how the Bill is reshaping UK employment law, and explore the implications for HR.
Shantha has won landmark victories in the Supreme Court that have reshaped the legal landscape. Her work champions equity, dignity and justice for workers across the public sector.
Read the transcript
What to read, listen to and watch next On your radar
April 2025 employment law changes: Five-point checklist for HR
Podcast: Neonatal care leave - a practical guide
Webinar: Ethnicity data disclosure - fostering trust and building engagement for a better workplace
Join us on the podcast as Jeya Thiruchelvam, Internal Communications and Engagement Lead at Brightmine, shares powerful insights on how organisations can truly harness the full potential of their people. Discover how employees can grow, thrive, and elevate their careers · all without changing employers. It's a conversation about talent, transformation, and the future of work you won't want to miss.
Download the transcript
Related Brightmine resources
Managing retention: Creating a retention strategy
Leadership development: A driver of business success
Four steps HR can take to help businesses and employees embrace the new "squiggly" careers era
Podcast: Rethinking recruitment and reskilling
Cathryn Edmondson, lead consultant at Innecto Reward Consulting, joins the podcast to talk about gender pay gap reporting - its history, current challenges and the upcoming legislative changes that organisations need to know about.
What to read, listen to and watch next
Pay transparency - do the right thing
Mind the gap: How are countries implementing the EU Pay Transparency Directive?
Podcast: Gender pay gap reporting - a global view
Webinar: Pay transparency - the value of honesty and some pitfalls to avoid
Ferzana Ahmed and Mith Ragukaran, solicitors at law firm Fragomen, join us to talk through the latest immigration developments and issues affecting HR professionals, including what's on the horizon.
Read the transcript
Related resources
Transition to eVisas 2024: Key updates and action points for employers
Immigration rules and right to work
On your radar
In October 2024 the Government launched a major overhaul of employment law in the form of the Employment Rights Bill. A number of important amendments have been introduced since the proposed legislation was first published. Stephen Simpson, principal editor at Brightmine, joins the podcast to provide an update and help HR departments prepare for the changes.
Download the transcript
What to read, listen to and watch next
On your radar
April 2025 employment law changes: Five-point checklist for HR
Podcast: Neonatal care leave - a practical guide
Webinar: Ethnicity data disclosure - fostering trust and building engagement for a better workplace
Jo Broadbent, counsel knowledge lawyer at Hogan Lovells, joins us to discuss the new right to neonatal care leave and look at likely forthcoming changes to family-friendly employment rights in the Employment Rights Bill.
Read the transcript
Related resources Webinar: Statutory neonatal care leave - how employers can prepare
Neonatal care leave
Neonatal care pay
Neonatal care leave: Four scenarios employers could face
Susie Munro, senior legal editor at Brightmine, looks at three cases where employers have lost "discrimination arising from disability" claims after treating workers unfavourably because of disability-related absence.
Related resources
Disability-related absence: Tribunal round-up
On your radar
Disability discrimination - line manager training
Justine Woolf, director of consulting at Innecto Reward Consulting, joins the podcast to tell us about pay transparency legislation in the US and EU and why employers in the UK need to be prepared for change - and how their organisations can benefit by taking a proactive approach.
To access the white paper discussed by Justine, click here.
Read the transcript
What to read, listen to and watch next
Pay transparency - do the right thing
Demystifying the EU Pay Transparency Directive for UK employers
Podcast: Gender pay gap reporting - a global view
Webinar: Pay transparency - the value of honesty and some pitfalls to avoid
WhatsApp and other informal instant messaging platforms are an invaluable communication resource for individuals and groups. But as some recent legal cases have shown, they can also create problems when they are used in a work environment. Sam Dickinson, an employment lawyer and partner at Mayo Wynne Baxter solicitors, joins the podcasts to talk about the pitfalls - and what employers can do to manage risk.
Related resources Sexual harassment liability: Employment tribunal round-up
Compensation awards: Employment tribunal round-up
Use of email, instant messaging and internet at work policy
A significant proportion of the population have criminal records. So what are the legal requirements when thinking about recruiting someone with a spent or unspent conviction? And are employers that shy away from engaging with ex-offenders failing to make use of a valuable resource and even damaging their organisations? Debbie Sadler of Unlock and Brightmine senior legal editor Laura Merrylees join the podcast to discuss these questions and more.
Related resources Job applicants with convictions
Recruitment of people who have criminal record policy
Six key takeaways from the 2023 CIPD conference
Psychological safety is one of the cornerstones of a productive, progressive workplace. Strategist, futurist and data scientist Wilson Wong joins the podcast to discuss how to build it, how to measure it and what can go wrong when it’s lacking in an organisation.
Read the transcript
Related resources How to create psychological safety at work
Developing employee performance: Purpose, psychological safety and belonging
Materials referenced/recommended by Wilson Amy Edmondson's book The Fearless Organization
The APA 2024 survey on Psychological Safety in American Workplaces
A meta-analytic review examining the antecedents and outcomes of psychological safety
Wilson's own blog about identity at work: Navigating Identity at the workplace and Corporate Behaviour in 2024: How did it get so bad?
Laura Kimpton, HR strategy and practice editor at Brightmine, discusses how organisations, and line managers in particular, can support and champion neurodiversity in the workplace. Topics include:
- employers' legal duties under the Equality Act;
- the value of adopting a "needs-led" approach;
- making reasonable adjustments;
- approaches to onboarding and communication.
Read the transcript
Related resources
Neurodiversity policy
Introduction to neurodiversity - line manager training
Supporting neurodivergent candidates - line manager training
Onboarding: Workplace orientation - line manager checklist
Tailored reasonable adjustments plan for disabled employee
Employment law cases concerning neurodiversity
The Labour Government published its highly anticipated Employment Rights Bill on 10 October 2024. In this edition of the podcast, Brightmine employment law experts Zeba Sayed and Stephen Simpson analyse the key proposals in the Bill and offer advice on how HR can begin to prepare for the changes.
Read the transcript
The accompanying slides can be downloaded here
Related resources
Podcast: Employment Rights Bill Q&A
Employment Rights Bill published: 10 highlights for HR from the first draft
On your radar
Webinar: Employment Rights Bill – how HR can get ahead of the changes
The Labour Government published its highly anticipated Employment Rights Bill on 10 October 2024. In this edition of the podcast, Brightmine employment law experts Zeba Sayed and Stephen Simpson answer questions on different aspects of the Bill, from the timeline for the measures coming into effect to the nuances of the proposed unfair dismissal and fire and rehire changes.
Read the transcript
Related resources
On your radar
Podcast: What changes should HR prepare for from the Employment Rights Bill?
Employment Rights Bill published: 10 highlights for HR from the first draft
Webinar: Employment Rights Bill – how HR can get ahead of the changes
What will the people profession look like in 2035? How will AI transform HR practices over the next decade? And how can HR teams prepare for the ethical challenges posed by emerging technologies like AI? Tessa Hilson-Greener joins the podcast to answer these questions and many more besides.
Related resources AI fundamentals: How to identify AI needs in HR
Three areas of focus for the AI workplace revolution
Revolutionising AI rules for global employers
Use of AI chatbots at work policy
With changes to the law regarding sexual harassment in the workplace coming into effect this autumn · and further changes promised in the Government·s Employment Rights Bill · we are joined by Lisa Bell from Tell Jane to discuss the new legal duty on employers, the impact of technology and generational shifts in attitude.
Related resources
Building a working environment free from harassment and sexual harassment – Leading practice guide
New sexual harassment prevention duty: 10-point checklist for HR
Sexual harassment risk assessment form
The phrase ·four-day week· has been trending in the media of late · and being used to refer to quite different things, to the confusion of many! In this edition of the podcast we aim to clear up some common misunderstandings.
Related resources
- Right to request flexible working
- Flexible working requests policy
- Compressed hours policy
- Managing hybrid/flexible workers - line manager training
Justine Woolf, director of consulting at Innecto Reward Consulting, offers tips for HR to boost employee engagement and ensure that organisations get a better ROI on their benefits.
Related resources
Webinar: Why now is the time to align your rewards with your EVP
Podcast: Evolving your EVP to meet the needs of a multigenerational workforce
How to develop a reward strategy
Rebuilding in 2024: Strategies for reshaping worker expectations
Andrew Walker, new business development director with Personal Group, joins us to discuss the significant changes and trends shaping the future of work, and to explore strategies to evolve your employee value proposition (EVP) to meet the diverse needs of a multigenerational workforce.
Related resources Webinar: Why now is the time to align your rewards with your EVP
How to develop a reward strategy
Rebuilding in 2024: Strategies for reshaping worker expectations
What is an employee value proposition (EVP)?
From wellness and neurodiversity to ·hotelification·, Rachel Basha, founder and CEO of the architecture and design practice Basha-Franklin, discusses the ways in which the shifting needs and character of the 21st-century workforce are reshaping office design.
Related resources Deskless and disengaged - how can you stop me from leaving?
Introduction to neurodiversity - line manager training
Health and wellbeing policy
Webinar: Hybrid working - how to personalise the employee experience
Bags for life, tea containing a surprising substance and more: Susie Munro, senior legal editor at Brightmine, discusses four recent employment tribunal cases where employees were dismissed for misconduct after making what they said were mistakes.
Related resources Misconduct dismissals following employee mistakes: Employment tribunal round-up
How does a tribunal gauge whether an employee has been unfairly dismissed on the basis of misconduct?
Misconduct - line manager training
Steve Allan joins us to talk about HR's role in mergers and acquisitions and offers five top tips for getting M&As right. We talk about:
- company culture;
- the impact of AI;
- understanding TUPE; and
- how to get integration right.
Related resources Hiring across borders: Five compliance challenges and how to solve them
Podcast: Global hiring - AI, EORs and worker misclassification risks
Guide for global employers: Recruitment and selection
Miranda Zolot, general counsel at Oyster, talks about the benefits and challenges of distributed working and global hiring. Join her as she discusses subjects including: • EORs and PEOs; • compliance issues; • employee/contractor misclassification risks; and • AI.
Related resources
What is an employer of record?
Hiring across borders: Five compliance challenges and how to solve them
Guide for global employers: Recruitment and selection
Guide for global employers: International assignments
According to research, almost half of the skills used by the workforce today will no longer be relevant in a couple of years. Given this context of a fast-evolving workplace with shifting needs, it's perhaps unsurprising that organisations are struggling to hire people with the right skills. What is to be done? Career mentor Laurie Macpherson joins us to discuss ways for HR and employees to begin to rethink recruitment and reskilling.
Related resources * Four steps HR can take to help businesses and employees embrace the new "squiggly" careers era * Whose responsibility is employee development anyway? * Managing retention: Creating a retention strategy * Global learning and development 2024: XpertHR survey report
A raft of employment law changes have come into effect over the past few months. In this edition of the podcast, Zeba Sayed and Stephen Simpson discuss some developments that have perhaps received less attention than others: the changes to special redundancy protection for family-related leave that came into force on 6 April 2024.
Want to learn more? April 2024 employment law changes: Eight-point checklist for HR
Redundancy policy
Redundancy: Letter offering suitable alternative vacancy to pregnant employee
Redundancy during or after maternity leave: Letter offering suitable alternative vacancy to employee
International and domestic politics, issues of gender and sexuality: people disagree about lots of things. Understandably, many organisations worry about the impact of controversial beliefs being expressed in the workplace - perhaps because of the effect on other employees, perhaps just because of the distraction that disputes can cause.
In this edition of the podcast, employment law specialist Darren Newman joins us to discuss how organisations can navigate conflicts of belief in the workplace. Darren sets out the relevant case law and tackles questions including:
- Can employers distinguish between what is said in the workplace and what is said elsewhere, eg on social media?
- Can they put rules in place governing how people talk about controversial issues?
- What can they do to protect themselves and their employees?
Related resources * Gender reassignment discrimination: Gender fluid and non-binary identities are protected * Religion or belief discrimination: Gender-critical belief is protected, EAT holds * Balancing competing rights: A difficult challenge for employers
Running an employment tribunal claim can be complicated and requires careful management. We are joined by part-time employment tribunal judge Tina Elliott, who offers practical tips on how to prepare effectively.
The topics we discuss include:
- case management hearings;
- document disclosure;
- witness statements; and
- video hearings
We are joined by Louise Haycock, immigration solicitor and partner at law firm Fragomen, to discuss the latest immigration changes affecting employers and the workforce, and how HR can prepare for them.
The rules around COVID-19 were very clearly drawn in 2020. But what is the state of play now, not just in relation to COVID but to illness in the workplace generally? What should organisations do about employees who are nervous about returning to the workplace? Or about at-risk employees, particularly when infection rates are high? Or about long COVID - is it now treated as a disability? Bar Huberman, strategy and practice head of content at XpertHR, offers guidance.
Resources
Disability discrimination: Employee with long COVID was disabled
Hybrid working: Setting up the workplace for effective hybrid working
How to respond where an employee is reluctant to return to the workplace
According to a YouGov survey, 15% of people meet their partners at work. Given how widespread the phenomenon is, to what extent does HR need to take an interest in office romances? Stephen Simpson, principal strategy and practice editor at XpertHR, joins us to discuss the finer points of workplace relationship etiquette and to answer the (somewhat unromantic) question: Should the UK introduce US-style "love contracts"?
Resources How to manage personal relationships at work
Personal relationships at work - line manager training
Personal relationships at work policy
Personal relationships at work quiz - line manager training
Rebekah Martin, senior vice president of reward, inclusion and talent acquisition at AstraZeneca, joins us to talk about the changing motivations and requirements of the workforce - connection to purpose, skills-based learning, recognition and more. She discusses her role at AstraZeneca and sets out a series of ways in which organisations can try to ensure that they are employers of choice for Gen Alpha, the next generation to join the workforce.
Resources Managing retention: Employee development
Six strategies to attract talent and remain competitive in 2024
Rebuilding in 2024: Strategies for reshaping worker expectations
Five HR priorities for 2024
Mindfulness can be a great tool for building employee engagement and team cohesiveness. XpertHR's in-house mindfulness teacher, Christopher Bryant, explains how to make it work for you.
Related resources How a mindfulness group can help HR promote engagement and teamwork
Gender pay gap reporting is now well established in the UK. But what approaches are being taken elsewhere in the world, and what difference might the new EU Pay Transparency Directive make? Elle Barreto and Ro Carracedo Lopez, international editors at XpertHR, answer these questions and more.
Related resources Demystifying the EU Pay Transparency Directive for UK employers
EU employment law developments
Gender pay gap reporting
How to measure and report a gender pay gap
What financial challenges does the coming year have in store for organisations as they plan their reward strategy? Paula Flores and Hannah Mason, data insight analysts at XpertHR, make their predictions based on the findings from our autumn pay forecasts and priorities survey.
Resources XpertHR surveys
Reward planning 2024: priorities and key challenges
Forecasts for pay awards in 2023/2024
Benchmarking - HR Metrics
In this edition of the podcast we are joined by Fay Wallis to discuss growth mindsets, the power of small steps and other strategies to build your confidence as you develop your career.
About Fay WallisFay specialises in career and executive coaching for HR professionals. She is the creator of The HR Planner, a resource for setting and achieving your work and career goals for the year. She is also the host of HR Coffee Time, a podcast that focuses on career development in HR. Her website is brightskycareercoaching.co.uk.
Resources Leading practice guide: Managing change successfully
Podcast: Five steps to yourself from burning out - help for struggling HR professionals
Webinar: Adapting to change - helping HR find balance and calm in uncertainty
Podcast: Building HR resilience
There’s been a lot of discussion around flexible working reforms in the media and elsewhere recently, sometimes generating confusion as well as providing insight. So what are employers’ current obligations, what changes have been agreed by Parliament and when are they due to be implemented? In this edition of the podcast, we are joined by XpertHR senior legal editor Laura Merrylees to answer these questions.
We explore the key changes in discrimination law that have occurred since the Equality Act 2010 came into force and offer an overview of important case law.
Resources related to this podcast Employment law guide: Equality and human rights
Employment law cases
In this edition of the podcast we are joined by Kate Redshaw to discuss the future role of AI in the workplace, and the pivotal role that HR professionals can play in terms of how their organisations can best unlock its potential.
Zeba Sayed and Stephen Simpson discuss the importance of having workplace policies that advance gender equality, diversity and inclusion, and highlight some of the innovative policies that progressive employers are now adopting.
If you have questions or ideas for future editions of the show, you can email us at podcast@xperthr.co.uk. We would love to hear from you!
It is critical for employers to follow a fair procedure before dismissing an employee. Here, Fiona Cuming, senior employment law editor at XpertHR, discusses a series of recent employment tribunal decisions where unfair dismissal claims proved successful because of procedural mistakes made by the employer during the disciplinary process.
Workplace sickness absence is a complicated area for employers. In this edition of the podcast, Paula Flores, an HR Data Insights Analyst at XpertHR, leads us on a tour of the findings of our annual survey of absence rates and costs. What are the trends and what measures can employers adopt?
Resources referenced in this podcast
- How to manage an employee with a poor sickness absence record
- How to set absence triggers and targets
- Short-term sickness absence policy
- Long-term sickness absence policy
- Absence rates and costs: XpertHR survey 2023
Age discrimination can be a tricky area for employers. In this edition of the podcast, Susie Munro, Senior Legal Editor at XpertHR, leads us on a tour of recent cases that offer examples of how things can go wrong if they are mishandled and provides some tips on avoiding typical age-related traps.
If you have questions or ideas for future editions of the show, you can email us at podcast@xperthr.co.uk. We would love to hear from you!
The resources Susie refers to are:
- Age discrimination: Case law round-up
- Age discrimination: Employment tribunal round-up
- Can direct age discrimination be justified?
- Workforce planning
- How to work without a compulsory retirement age
- Retirement
- Managing poor performance
- More episodes from The XpertHR Podcast
According to a recent survey, 98 per cent of HR professionals said they had felt burned out in the past six months. In this episode we ask:
- What is burnout exactly?
- Why is it afflicting so many people working in HR?
- And - crucially - what can you do to keep burnout at bay?
On hand to address these questions are Debbie Kleiner, from Wellbeing in Work, and Bar Huberman, XpertHR's HR Strategy & Practice Content Manager.
We look at the challenges and opportunities arising in immigration in 2023 for HR and employers, including:
- the introduction of new visa types;
- an additional exemption to the immigration skills charge for senior or specialist workers;
- the importance of planning ahead to manage the impact of longer lead times;
- changes to right to work checks;
- benefits and issues arising from hybrid and remote working;
- managing sponsored workers when dealing with recruitment, restructures and redundancies; and
- trends and developments, including the anticipated Electronic Travel Authorisation system for EU nationals.
We reflect on the key decisions from last year and look forward to the case law trends likely to emerge in 2023. These include cases on: gender identity, holiday pay, coronavirus-related health and safety cases, industrial action, and dismissal and re-engagement.
We shares some practical tips on how HR and employers can improve the working experience for neurodiverse employees and make the wider workforce more cognisant of some of the issues they experience.
If an employer dismisses for gross misconduct, what does this mean for an employee's contractual rights? Does a failure to pay notice pay, make an otherwise fair dismissal unfair? Max Winthrop, partner at Sintons LLP, joins us to answer these questions and more, drawing on his legal and practical expertise. Max also shares his thoughts on the potential for significant change to employment law under the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.
If an employer dismisses for gross misconduct, what does this mean for an employee's contractual rights? Does a failure to pay notice pay, make an otherwise fair dismissal unfair? Max Winthrop, partner at Sintons LLP, joins us to answer these questions and more, drawing on his legal and practical expertise. Max also shares his thoughts on the potential for significant change to employment law under the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.
Jen Rooney, disability inclusion specialist and founder of The Wellbeing tortoise, explores why employers need to understand and embrace the human case for reasonable adjustments to cultivate inclusive workplaces.
Jen Rooney, disability inclusion specialist and founder of The Wellbeing tortoise, explores why employers need to understand and embrace the human case for reasonable adjustments to cultivate inclusive workplaces.
Nick Chronias, partner in DAC Beachcroft's employment and pensions group discusses the steps employers can take to avoid industrial action and what obligations employers have once a ballot for industrial action has been successful among employees who are members of a trade union.
Nick Chronias, partner in DAC Beachcroft's employment and pensions group discusses the steps employers can take to avoid industrial action and what obligations employers have once a ballot for industrial action has been successful among employees who are members of a trade union.
Adrian Martin, head of the employment team at law firm Burges Salmon, discusses the tricky issues that can crop up when there are multiple contractors in a TUPE transfer, and how both outgoing and incoming employers can navigate these issues.
Adrian takes you through the legal and practical issues involved in service provision changes, including: when and why TUPE might apply; the "fragmentation" of services; recent case law; and how HR can help to structure and shape the services to achieve the commercial objective.
Adrian Martin, head of the employment team at law firm Burges Salmon, discusses the tricky issues that can crop up when there are multiple contractors in a TUPE transfer, and how both outgoing and incoming employers can navigate these issues.
Adrian takes you through the legal and practical issues involved in service provision changes, including: when and why TUPE might apply; the "fragmentation" of services; recent case law; and how HR can help to structure and shape the services to achieve the commercial objective.
Gemma Dale, HR professional and lecturer at Liverpool's John Moores University and author of the book "How to work remotely" published in June 2022, joins us to talk about progress to date with hybrid working. We cover challenges as well as emerging benefits - including dealing with reluctant returners, cultivating the right culture, building trust, and what HR should be advising senior leaders in terms of the way forward.
Bev Thorogood, menopause specialist trainer and coach, joins us to discuss how you can create and cultivate a workplace that is supportive of people experiencing the menopause transition.
Bev discusses how managers can hold conversations with sensitivity and understanding, together with the steps and strategies they can use to support menopausal team members including: menopause-related initiatives; the role of policies; adjustments to working life; and tailored adjustment plans.
We outline the steps HR can take to embed authentic trust between people managers and employees and build psychological safety within workplaces.
Given that more staff now work from home, employers may be thinking about using surveillance software to help monitor staff conduct and productivity levels. But what are the legal implications of doing so and the best practice guidelines? And, just because you can monitor, does that mean you should?
Stephen Simpson, principal employment law editor here at XpertHR, joins us to talk about how employers that are operating under a hybrid working model must ensure that their sickness absence management procedures sit comfortably alongside their new working arrangements. We also present the findings of our latest sickness absence rates survey.
We discuss tricky issues that can arise when investigating allegations of improper conduct - such as sexual or racial harassment, bullying or discrimination - as well as some common mistakes and process points to have in mind, including issues relating to the role of HR and decision-makers.
Kate Pritchard, head of engagement and leadership at Tivian, joins us to talk about the significance of employee engagement as we are transitioning into the new world of work shaped by hybrid working, the great resignation, skills shortages and employee wellbeing. Kate also discusses changes in employee engagement and the key role that leaders need to play in driving engagement.
Max Winthrop, partner and head of the employment law team at Short, Richardson and Forth LLP, discusses the law and best practice around disability-related reasonable adjustments at disciplinary and grievance meetings including: the circumstances in which the duty arises; considerations relating to face-to-face and remote meetings; a worker's choice of companion; and the timing and rescheduling of meetings.
Max also looks at two recent employment tribunal decisions, and reflects on how disability-related adjustments may become relevant in other contexts.
Uxshely Carcamo, a lawyer, psychotherapist and registered nutritionist and author at XpertHR, talks about the impact of the pandemic on mental wellbeing, the need to challenge the misconception that mental wellbeing is wholly mental ill health, potent
Noelle Murphy, senior HR practice editor at XpertHR, explores the findings from XpertHR's recent HR careers survey including the impact of the pandemic and hybrid working practices on HR professionals and discusses priorities and challenges on the HR agenda.
What are the employment law issues you need to know about when managing reluctant returners?
Darren Newman, employment lawyer, guides you through the key legal considerations to have in mind when handling employees who are reluctant to return to the workplace following a period of remote working, including issues relating to:
- the contract of employment;
- custom and practice;
- vulnerable employees;
- employees who have relocated;
- flexible working; and
- a refusal to follow a reasonable instruction.
CEO of the CIPD Peter Cheese joins us to talk about his new book The New World of Work, which explores the many factors shaping work, workplaces, workforces and our working lives. Peter explores the principles around which we can build a future that is good for people, for business and for societies.
Peter is the co-chair of the Flexible Working Taskforce, a partnership across government departments, business groups, trade unions and charities, whose aim is to increase the uptake of flexible working. Alongside this, he is the Chair of Engage for Success and the What Works Centre for Wellbeing.
Louise Haycock, partner and immigration solicitor at law firm Fragomen, joins us to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the post-Brexit immigration regime for employers, including the impact of the EU settlement scheme and right to work checks.
Louise also explores how HR can use an effective immigration strategy to help with recruitment and retention issues, and highlights the key immigration changes and trends that we are expecting to see in 2022.
We highlight key cases due to be decided this year and discuss their impact on HR. These include cases on: vicarious liability, holiday pay, agency workers, age discrimination, and coronavirus-related health and safety cases.
The 2022 cases that we discuss will decide the following questions:
- When is an employer vicariously liable for its employees' actions?
- How should employers calculate holiday pay for term-time workers?
- How far does the scope of the Agency Workers Regulations extend?
- When can an employer justify a compulsory retirement age?
- Can unpaid holiday that has been taken be carried over to the following leave year?
- Can it be fair for an employer to dismiss an employee who refuses to attend work for coronavirus-related health and safety concerns?
We will also be reflecting on the key decisions from last year as well as looking forward to the employment law cases likely to emerge this year.
Adrian Martin, head of the employment team at law firm Burges Salmon, shares his top tips on some tricky legal issues that can arise in the recruitment process relating to: managers making unauthorised promises to candidates; remote working arrangements; inducing a breach of restrictive covenants; and flexing the length of probationary periods.
How is HR responding to the opportunities and challenges presented by the move to hybrid working? Noelle Murphy, XpertHR's senior HR practice editor, discusses the findings of our recent survey and unpacks what these mean for HR practitioners.
We explore: issues around consistency of approach; cultivating a culture of collaboration; avoiding the risk of a two-tier workforce; creating meaningful engagement; and how organisations are handling reluctant returners.
How are employment tribunals approaching claims arising from the coronavirus pandemic? We explore the most important decisions handed down so far this year and discuss their practical implications for HR, including cases relating to: health and safety; the furlough scheme; varying terms and conditions; and flexible working requests.
Tricia Halpin, chief people officer at Masthaven Bank, explains how her team has implemented the Women in Leadership initiative, a programme to improve gender diversity across senior roles. She shares her tips on how HR can tackle the issue of poor gender diversity to make a meaningful difference.
We also hear from two participants on the programme who explain the impact that the initiative has had on their careers.
Most people want to say and do the right thing when it comes to diversity and inclusion but often hold back from asking questions out of a fear of being judged.
We put some of those often unasked, and sometimes provocative, questions to Joy Stephens, a US-based diversity, equality and inclusion consultant. Joy discusses, among other things, what being "woke" really means; what separates tokenism from meaningful action; whether white middle class men can really be effective proponents of the diversity agenda; and why the Black community can use the "N word" but other communities cannot.
Jo Broadbent, counsel knowledge lawyer at Hogan Lovells, guides you through the fundamentals of handling flexible working requests and discusses the future of flexible working in the post-pandemic workplace.
We discuss the law and best practice when responding to requests; practical steps to avoid indirect discrimination complaints; learning points from the recent case of Thompson v Scancrown Ltd (t/a as Manors); flexible working requests post-pandemic; and the Government's proposed reforms to the Flexible Working Regulations 2014.
Doron Davidson-Vidavski, executive trainer and facilitator at Strevas, takes us through the communication skills that line managers need to be effective as a people manager in a hybrid working model and how to develop and coach such skills.
When was the last time you reviewed your employees' contracts of employment? Do they reflect changed circumstances and current business needs? Max Winthrop, partner and head of the employment law team at Short, Richardson and Forth LLP, examines why it is important to understand and review your employees' contracts of employment, including those terms that may evolve through custom and practice.
We also discuss flexibility clauses, the role of reaching agreement and contractual terms that may seem less important but are nonetheless central to the contract.
Professor Cary Cooper, CBE, Professor of organisational health and psychology at Alliance Manchester Business School at the University of Manchester, President of the CIPD, President of the Institute of Welfare and Chair of the National Forum for Health and Wellbeing talks to us about the future of the workplace, the role of line managers in its success, and the key skills required by line managers in a hybrid setting.
Rochelle Murinas, HR professional and managing director at Innov8 Human Resources, talks to us about the skills required to manage a redundancy process effectively and empathetically, while minimising the emotional impact on all those involved.
Joanne Lockwood, transgender awareness specialist and founder of SEE Change Happen, shares her experience as a transgender woman in the workplace and explores how organisations can cultivate transgender inclusive practices. We discuss how employers can "smile, engage and educate"; the importance of creating psychologically safe workplaces; the support employers can offer to a trans person's family, friends and colleagues; meaningful recruitment initiatives; and easy wins/fails.
This summer sees employees who holiday abroad facing quarantine when they return, work-life balance issues for parents during school holidays, two major sporting events, and the furlough scheme winding down.
Principal employment law editor Stephen Simpson explains the unique challenges the summer of 2021 provides for HR.
Dee Caunt, chief executive at the Dyslexia Association, shares her thoughts on how organisations can support neurodiverse employees and benefit from their unique strengths.
We discuss:
- the concept of neurodiversity;
- the benefits of employing neurodiverse people;
- the challenges that neurodiverse employees may face at work;
- making reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process;
- handling performance issues; and
- getting communication right.
For confidential advice on supporting a dyslexic employee, HR practitioners can call the Dyslexia Association's helpline.
Louise Roberts, people development director at housing provider Orbit, explains how her team has implemented hybrid working and shares her tips on how HR can capitalise on this opportunity to improve engagement, productivity and collaboration.
We also discuss how to support staff who are unable to work from home and how to ensure employees' wellbeing.
Kate Gamester, knowledge development lawyer at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP, discusses what employers need to know about carrying out right to work checks in the UK, including: the process for conducting checks; coronavirus-related concessions; and conducting checks on European nationals following Brexit.
What process should employers follow when moving their workforce to hybrid working? Principal employment law editor Stephen Simpson joins us to discuss the legal aspects of implementing hybrid working and answer HR's questions about making the move.
The coronavirus pandemic provides an unprecedented opportunity for employers to examine their approach to flexible working. Many employers are now planning to introduce permanent hybrid/blended working, particularly where their workforce has shown that it can perform to a high level with a more flexible approach in place.
How has HR risen to the challenges of COVID-19? Senior HR practice editor, Noelle Murphy, takes us through the latest findings from XpertHR's annual survey of HR roles and responsibilities.
We also discuss key metrics for the profession, including the ratio of HR practitioners to employees, budgets and key priorities for the year ahead.
Max Winthrop, partner and head of the employment law team at Short, Richardson and Forth LLP, discusses the circumstances that may justify a some other substantial reason dismissal including: changing an employee's terms and conditions; third-party pressure to dismiss; a breakdown in working relations; and where an employee refuses to have the coronavirus vaccine.
Vicki Robinson, deputy director at the Miscarriage Association and Jo Broadbent, counsel knowledge lawyer at Hogan Lovells, share their thoughts on how HR, line managers and colleagues can support employees affected by miscarriage or stillbirth.
Topics discussed include:
- employees' rights to time off;
- emotional support and communicating sensitively;
- returning to work;
- the rights of partners and fathers; and
- what to do where an employee suffers a miscarriage at work.
We are also joined by Stephen Simpson, principal employment law editor at XpertHR, to discuss the key documents that employers can use to outline the support available for employees and to confirm their associated rights to time off.
Gemma Dale joins us to talk about the crucial role HR has played in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, the future of the workplace and the challenges around wellbeing and engagement.
Luke Bowery, partner at Burges Salmon, guides you through some common tricky issues in redundancy selection exercises, including: devising fair selection criteria; adjusting criteria for disabled employees; conducting competitive interview processes; pooling and scoring where employees have been furloughed; and assessing those on secondment.
Louise Haycock, partner at law firm Fragomen, takes us through what employers need to know, and what actions they may need to take, following the end of the transition period around the UK leaving the EU.
What key employment cases should be on the HR radar in 2021? We highlight the most important upcoming cases and discuss their impact on HR, including those relating to: worker status, holiday pay, national minimum wage for sleep-in care workers, trade unions and collective bargaining, and equal pay.
We also look at the impact of Brexit on EU case law and the state of play of employment tribunals.
The 2021 cases that we discuss will decide the following questions:
- Are Uber drivers self-employed or are they workers, meaning that they are entitled to basic employment rights?
- Are sleep-in care workers entitled to the national minimum wage while they are asleep?
- Are employers permitted to make direct pay offers to employees "over the heads of the union" when collective bargaining breaks down?
- Should employers include voluntary overtime in the calculation of employees' holiday pay?
- How far should claims for the unlawful exclusion of overtime from holiday pay calculations be limited?
- How should employers calculate holiday pay for term-time workers?
- Are supermarket workers, who are mostly female, able to compare their pay with the pay of depot workers, who are predominantly male?
Max Winthrop, partner and head of the employment law team at Short, Richardson & Forth, discusses the legal and practical consequences for HR of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme including: whether or not employers can require workers to be vaccinated; potential discrimination issues; contractual considerations; and practical steps around communication, strategy and policy.
Immigration solicitor Louise Haycock details what employers need to know with the end of the Brexit transition on December 31 2020, including the new points-based immigration system that came into force on 1 December.
Rosie Evans, behavioural scientist, discusses how HR can approach coaching, onboarding and evaluating remote workers in an emotionally intelligent way.
The HR community has been at the heart of the response from organisations to the coronavirus pandemic, dealing with ongoing uncertainty, emerging and re-emerging schemes while also dealing with perennial HR issues. Sarah-Jane Georges and Allen Liedkie, both account directors at behaviour change company Steps, discuss the best ways to develop behaviours to build resilience during these times.
Employment lawyer David Whincup provides practical tips on managing the end of a redundancy process.
Jo Broadbent, counsel knowledge lawyer at Hogan Lovells, provides practical guidance on the key discrimination decisions of the past ten years since the introduction of the Equality Act 2010, including cases relating to: discrimination arising from disability; religious and philosophical beliefs; sexual orientation discrimination; and the "costs plus" approach to justification of indirect discrimination.
Jo also discusses future developments in discrimination legislation.
Employment lawyer Darren Newman discusses the Job Support Scheme, which takes effect on 1 November 2020, including: the parameters of the scheme and to whom it applies; funding arrangements; and its potential impact for employers.
We also look at the consequences of the self-isolation regulations for employers and workers.
We talk to Joy Stephens about how organisations can create a more racially diverse and inclusive workplace, from the different forms that racism can take to microaggressions - what they are and how to deal with them.
Richard Martin from the employment relations and HR training provider byrne-dean joins us to discuss managing mental health wellbeing. He takes us through some of the mental health challenges arising from working arrangements as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and offers sound practical advice on meeting these challenges.
David Whincup, partner and head of employment at the London office of law firm Squire Patton Boggs, discusses the key elements of a whistleblowing complaint, and shares his tips on how employers can deal effectively with protected disclosures in the context of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Roianne Nedd, a diversity and inclusion expert, explores the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement. We discuss the concepts of white privilege and white fragility; how to be an effective ally; how organisations translate powerful conversations into meaningful action; and practical steps that organisations can take in the context of both recruitment and capability.
Darren Newman, employment lawyer, discusses how flexible furlough will work under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme from 1 July 2020.
Mary Lawrence, partner at law firm Osborne Clarke, joins us to discuss the key health and safety issues for HR professionals during the lifting of the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown.
Louise Haycock, immigration solicitor, discusses the steps that organisations need to take now to prepare their workforce for the effects of Brexit, including applying for sponsor licences, dealing with the implications of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on immigration, and other general workforce planning issues.
Victoria Lewis, chief executive at bryne-dean, joins us to talk about employee engagement and what it means during the coronavirus pandemic. She offers her unique insight into how HR can ensure employees continue to feel engaged, many of whom will be facing enduring challenges at this time.
Andy Langford, clinical director at Cruse Bereavement Care, joins us to discuss the impact of grief in the workplace, and the added challenges in the current climate of social distancing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. He offers sound, practical advice on supporting employees who have suffered a bereavement as a result of, or during, the coronavirus pandemic.
Nick Chronias, partner at DAC Beachcroft, guides you through the legal and practical considerations of running a collective consultation process with a remote workforce.
Darren Newman, employment lawyer, discusses the legal and practical considerations of managing annual leave during the coronavirus pandemic.
Darren explores the law in this area, including the new right for certain employees to carry over their annual leave entitlement. He also discusses the extent to which employers are able to compel employees to take holiday at designated times, and an employer's right to postpone holiday requests.
Jo Broadbent, counsel knowledge lawyer at Hogan Lovells, discusses what constitutes "work" under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and explores some of the common, tricky scenarios that employers face during periods of furlough including:
- communicating with employees;
- undertaking different types of training;
- conducting different types of HR process; and
- dealing with employees who may wish to work.
Louise Haycock, immigration solicitor and partner at law firm Fragomen, outlines what employers need to think about in relation to UK immigration requirements during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and discusses the practical steps that organisations can take around compliance.
Darren Newman, employment lawyer, discusses how employers can manage disciplinary, grievance and performance management processes remotely during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
Darren provides practical advice on some of the common challenges faced by HR and line managers, including issues relating to the postponement of processes, and how to ensure fairness when conducting a hearing remotely.
Mark Crail, content director at XpertHR, takes us through the findings of our two most recent surveys exploring how HR is dealing with the challenges thrown up by the coronavirus pandemic.
Max Winthrop, partner and head of the employment law team at Short, Richardson and Forth LLP, answers your questions on the impact of the coronavirus on your workforce, including latest guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, annual leave, short-time working and emergency volunteer leave.
Jo Broadbent, counsel knowledge lawyer at Hogan Lovells, discusses the right to parental bereavement leave.
Darren Newman, employment lawyer, discusses the Government guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and furloughing workers. Darren takes you through the key features of the scheme and discusses tricky issues, including the process of selecting employees to be furloughed.
Catriona Aldridge, senior associate at law firm CMS, outlines latest developments introduced as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic - including school closures and the Government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and what these mean for employers.
Senior HR practice editor, Noelle Murphy, takes us through the latest findings from XpertHR's annual survey of HR roles and responsibilities.
We discuss key metrics for the profession, including the ratio of HR practitioners to employees, budgets and priorities over the coming 12 months. We also discuss the impact of the coronavirus on planned priorities for the HR function.
Darren Newman joins us to discuss how employers can deal with the special circumstances created by the coronavirus (COVID-19), including the implications for statutory sick pay when an employee chooses to self-isolate and when the employer has to instruct an employee to self-isolate.
Nick Chronias discusses the right to suspend employees pending a disciplinary investigation, including the issues to consider before, during and after a suspension.
Helen Rice-Birchall, principal associate in the human resources practice group at Eversheds Sutherland, joins us to outline the steps that employers need to take to fairly manage an employee experiencing symptoms of the menopause.
Emma O'Connor, senior associate at law firm Boyes Turner, discusses the legal and practical implications for employers of the recent employment tribunal case involving a philosophical belief in ethical veganism.
Which employment cases will have the biggest impact on HR in 2020? We assess the likely impact on employers of upcoming cases on: the national minimum wage, data protection, age discrimination, collective bargaining, and TUPE.
The 2020 cases that we discuss pose the following questions:
- Are sleep-in care workers entitled to the national minimum wage while asleep?
- Can an employer be vicariously liable for the actions of a rogue employee who publishes the personal data of co-employees online?
- Is a public-sector employer looking to cut costs able to use the "absence of financial means" to justify a discriminatory pay policy?
- Are employers permitted to make direct pay offers to employees "over the heads of the union" when collective bargaining breaks down?
- Does TUPE protection extend beyond employees to cover gig economy workers?
Catriona Aldridge, Senior Associate at law firm CMS, joins us to discuss the legal and practical issues that employers need to think about in relation to equal pay.
How far should employers go in meeting their obligations to make reasonable adjustments for disabled workers? What does the law mean by "provision, criterion or practice"? What factors should employers take into account when deciding what adjustments to make? Drawing on examples from case law, we discuss some key do's and don'ts when making reasonable adjustments.
In particular, we discuss how the duty extends to job applicants as well as current employees; the practicalities of making adjustments to internal policies and procedures; and the importance of keeping records of any adjustments made.
Should the same punishment be handed down to everyone when there are multiple culprits? Can an expired warning be taken into account? Can a disciplinary sanction be increased on appeal? We discuss some common dilemmas for employers when deciding on disciplinary penalties.
Kate Upcraft, payroll consultant and lecturer, joins us to discuss proposed reform of IR35 (intermediaries legislation) in the private sector that will have an impact on off-payroll working, and that is anticipated to take effect in April 2020. Kate explains what the new rules will mean for employers that engage consultants, and the practical steps that organisations will need to take to ensure compliance.
Kate also discusses further changes that are anticipated for public-sector employers.
Nick Chronias, partner at DAC Beachcroft LLP, joins us to share his guidance on when you can take issue with an employee's use of social media, and the benefits of having a social media policy that reflects the needs and culture of your organisation.
Jo Broadbent, counsel knowledge lawyer at Hogan Lovells, joins us to discuss the legal and practical issues related to covert recordings at work. We consider the challenges employers are likely to face including the recording of disciplinary proceedings by employees, and dealing with evidence covertly obtained to support harassment allegations.
We also discuss what employers should know before making a covert recording, and how policies and procedures can be best drafted to mitigate common risks.
Senior HR practice editor Noelle Murphy discusses the trends in sickness absence and labour turnover rates - including rates among employees with less than 12 months' service - and considers what these changes mean for HR and the wider business.
Over two years on from the abolition of employment tribunal fees, we discuss the latest figures for tribunal claims and look at the impact on employers of severe delays in cases being heard.
Naomi Goldshtein, compliance manager at Fragomen, joins us to discuss what employers need to know about the right to work in the UK.
This includes the key points often overlooked by employers when it comes to the prevention of illegal working in the UK, documentation required, and outlines the process that should be followed.
Naeema Choudry, partner at Eversheds Sutherland, joins us to discuss the EAT decision of Kelly v Royal Mail Group which highlights common issues and dilemmas associated with long-term poor attendance, including constructive knowledge of disability and the weight to attach to occupational health advice.
We also discuss how a decision to dismiss for poor attendance may fall within the band of reasonable responses, even where it was acknowledged to be harsh.
Handling difficult conversations is an essential skill for line managers but it doesn't come easily. Gary Bates and Sarah-Jane Georges, both account directors at behaviour change company Steps, discuss the best ways to develop line manager confidence and competence in having such conversations.
This includes the key principles around having effective and productive conversations when the subject matter is difficult or potentially upsetting for the employee, and offers examples using role play.
Matthew Perry, a solicitor at Wedlake Bell, joins us to discuss the benefits of embedding effective whistleblowing arrangements in your organisation, and guides you through the steps to take should you receive a whistleblowing complaint.
Jo Broadbent, counsel knowledge lawyer at Hogan Lovells, joins us to discuss the legal and practical issues that employers need to think about when contemplating positive action.
Getting the right dress code in place for your organisation means not falling foul of the law in this area. Beverley Sunderland, managing director of Crossland Employment Solicitors, joins us to set out what employers need to take into account and to provide practical guidance on rolling out a dress code policy. Sarah Byrne, HR practice editor, also joins us to discuss our latest research in this area.
Louise Haycock, director at Fragomen, takes us through the implications of Theresa May's resignation and the new proposed Brexit date of 31st October 2019.
Issues that can arise during maternity leave range from the mundane, such as keeping lines of communication open, to the dramatic, such as putting an employee at risk of redundancy. We are joined by principal employment law editor Stephen Simpson to discuss common scenarios during maternity leave, and how to deal with them.
Almost one year on from the introduction of the GDPR, we discuss its continuing importance for HR and the potential impact of Brexit on transfers of personal data.
We are joined by senior employment law editor Susie Munro to go through some current data protection issues of interest to HR. We look at:
- potential enforcement action and the importance of staff training;
- the use of artificial intelligence in the recruitment process;
- data protection impact assessments; and
- the transfer of data between the EEA and the UK in light of ongoing uncertainty around Brexit.
XpertHR's annual survey of HR roles and responsibilities covers HR priorities over the coming year, budgets for carrying out activities and ratio of HR practitioners to employees.
Senior HR practice editor, Noelle Murphy, takes us through latest findings, key points of note from the research and identifies trends over time. Recruitment challenges for the HR profession and the impact of Brexit are also discussed.
Handling disciplinary and grievance situations is a perennial issue for HR, and having robust procedures in place is the cornerstone of a fair process.
Max Winthrop, head of employment law at Short Richardson and Forth LLP, joins us to discuss some of the key points you need to have in mind, including how recent updates to the Acas guidance on disciplinary and grievance situations may impact your approach.
Settlement agreements form an essential part of an employer's toolkit, providing a means to terminate employment on mutually acceptable terms without the risk of tribunal claims. Their success, however, depends on effective negotiation with the employee and compliance with technical rules.
Nick Chronias, partner at DAC Beachcroft LLP, joins us to discuss the key features of the settlement process including the following:
- starting a conversation with an employee around termination;
- the difference between "without prejudice" discussions and "protected conversations";
- the tax treatment of termination payments;
- confidentiality clauses;
- pitching the offer; and
- the technical rules that govern settlement agreements.
How should employers approach political discussions at work? Can employers prevent employees from displaying pro- or anti-Brexit paraphernalia at work? What about staff campaigning or protesting outside working hours? Will employers making redundancies because of Brexit really choose leave voters as the first to go?
We are joined by principal employment law editor Stephen Simpson to discuss five scenarios related to Brexit and political opinions at work.
With 29 March fast approaching, we talk to Louise Haycock, a director and immigration solicitor at Fragomen, about what employers should be doing to prepare for all Brexit scenarios.
Louise discusses the potential implications for employers of the various parliamentary outcomes, including the following:
- the impact on EU citizens working in the UK and vice versa;
- managing international assignments and business visitors;
- carrying out recruitment checks;
- using the settled status scheme;
- the status of Irish citizens working in the UK;
- supporting EU national workers; and
- reviewing your policies and procedures.
The recent decision of Awan v ICTS (UK) Ltd highlights the risk of dismissing an employee who is in receipt of permanent health insurance payments. Laurie Anstis, director with Boyes Turner LLP, explains the implications of the decision and the steps you can take to mitigate against the substantial financial risk of getting it wrong.
Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Laurie Anstis.
Employee wellbeing is high on the HR agenda, given its relationship with improved business performance. We explore XpertHR's latest research based on the experience of over 400 HR practitioners around initiatives in five key areas: health; job-related financial security; working environment; work-based relationships; and job purpose. We look at the top three reasons for organisations running wellbeing initiatives, how you can get it right and the challenges you might expect to meet along the way.
Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Noelle Murphy.
The #MeToo movement has become a global phenomenon and is rarely out of the news. But what should employers be doing to combat sexual harassment in the workplace?
Kelly Thomson, legal director at law firm RPC and XpertHR contributing author, gives us some top tips on the steps that employers can take to prevent sexual harassment. Kelly also gives her insight into how employers should deal with complaints of sexual harassment in the workplace and the key pitfalls that they should avoid.
Presenter Fiona Cuming is joined by Kelly Thomson.
Which employment cases will have the biggest impact on HR in 2019? We assess the likely impact on employers of upcoming cases on: the national minimum wage, shared parental leave, holiday pay, restrictive covenants, collective bargaining, covert CCTV, and employment status. The 2019 cases that we discuss pose the following questions: Are sleep-in care workers entitled to the national minimum wage while asleep? Is it sex discrimination for employers to enhance maternity pay but not shared parental pay? Is ambulance workers' voluntary overtime sufficiently regular and settled to be included in the calculation of holiday pay? Is a restrictive covenant that prevents an ex-employee from being "concerned or interested in" a competitor for six months too wide to be enforceable? Are employers permitted to make direct pay offers to employees "over the heads of the union" when collective bargaining breaks down? Is an employer that introduces widespread covert CCTV to tackle thefts breaching employees' right to privacy? Are Uber drivers "workers", entitling them to basic employment rights such as holiday pay? Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Fiona Cuming and Stephen Simpson.
In this roundtable podcast, members of the XpertHR editorial team reflect on the key employment law developments of 2018 and the impact of these for HR, including: Brexit; the GDPR; the apprenticeship levy; pay reporting; parental bereavement leave; and family-friendly policies.
With many of the changes likely to affect employers of all sizes and in differing sectors, we consider what employers need to do to prepare and plan for the year ahead and beyond.
Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Susie Munro, Stephen Simpson, Noelle Murphy and Fiona Cuming. Edited and produced by Chris Bryant.
Charlotte Billot-Taylor, Leader - Employee Relations, Policy & Advice at PwC, discusses her organisation's approach to flexible working and transparency around family-friendly policies. She shares the experience of PwC in introducing new initiatives designed around various flexible working patterns, and offers advice for any organisations looking to evaluate or modify flexible working policies or practice for employees. Presenter Noelle Murphy is joined by Charlotte Billot-Taylor.
Laurie Anstis, director with Boyes Turner LLP and updating author at XpertHR, focusses on how employers can avoid unfair dismissals when going through a redundancy exercise. Laurie covers when to seek volunteers, how to go about the consultation process, identifying and applying selection criteria, scoring those at risk of redundancy, avoiding redundancy problems and dealing with appeals against dismissal. Presenter Noelle Murphy is joined by Laurie Anstis.
Employers have awarded only modest pay rises over recent years, but what do they have in store for 2019? XpertHR managing editor for pay and HR practice Sheila Attwood joins us to discuss what organisations are planning on the pay front in 2019, including the likely level of pay awards and the factors that are putting pressure on organisations to make higher or lower increases. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Sheila Attwood. Edited and produced by Chris Bryant.
XpertHR reward consultant Penne Cecil-Hutton joins us to share her insight into the steps employers are taking to address or improve the gender pay gap within their organisations, and the most common queries that employers have with preparing or interpreting gender pay gap figures.
We also round up what employers need to do to prepare for the next date of publication of gender pay gap reports in 2019.
In the recent decision of Talon Engineering Ltd v Smith, the Employment Appeal Tribunal upheld an earlier tribunal finding that an employer's refusal to postpone a disciplinary hearing because of the unavailability of the employee's companion led to the employee being unfairly dismissed. Consultant editor, Darren Newman, explains the background to the case and its legal implications. We go on to discuss what employers can take from this decision and how they should be handling postponement requests as a result. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Darren Newman.
Senior HR practice editor Noelle Murphy discusses the trends in key HR metrics gathered by XpertHR for over a decade. We cover movements in sickness absence rates, labour turnover - including rates among employees with less than 12 months' service - and changes in the ratio of HR practitioners to employees, and consider what these changes mean for HR and the wider business.
Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Noelle Murphy. Edited and produced by Chris Bryant
Embedding an effective mental health first-aid structure in your organisation is a key step to ensuring the mental wellbeing of your workforce. Mental health first-aid instructor and management trainer, Peter Larkum, takes you through what you need to know about mental health first aid at work.
Louise Haycock, a senior manager at Fragomen and updating author at XpertHR, outlines where all things Brexit stand as of now for employers, what the end of free movement will mean for current and future employees from the European Economic Area and the implications of a "no deal" Brexit. Louise also covers what steps HR can take to reassure any employees who may be directly affected by the end of free movement between the UK and the EU and key dates around the process. Presenter Noelle Murphy is joined by Louise Haycock. Edited and produced by Chris Bryant.
The right to know who holds data about you and how it is being processed has long been a fundamental part of data protection law. The GDPR has brought in a renewed focus on transparency, and employers need to be prepared to respond quickly, should an employee or job applicant make a data subject access request. We discuss the main changes in the procedure for responding to a subject access request under the GDPR regime and the practicalities of providing access to what could potentially be a large amount of data. We highight the resources on XpertHR that can help employers comply with their obligations.
The headlines are being dominated by "gig economy" employment status cases, but there are plenty of other important employment law cases coming up. We discuss the potential implications for employers of forthcoming rulings on whistleblowing, data protection, restrictive covenants, covert CCTV and violence at work-related social events.
In the recent decision in Hextall v Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police and another, the Employment Appeal Tribunal opened up the question of whether or not an employer's policy of giving a period of full pay to mothers on maternity leave, but paying only statutory shared parental pay to partners, is indirectly discriminatory.
Douglas Leach, who represents Mr Hextall in the case and is a barrister at Guildhall chambers, outlines the case and explains the potential implications of the decision for employers.
Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Douglas Leach. Edited and produced by Chris Bryant.
With the World Cup 2018 starting on 14 June, we can safely say that football fever is about to arrive in the workplace. We discuss how employers can make the World Cup a home win by taking advantage of all the employment engagement opportunities that this event can bring. We look at some issues that might arise during the World Cup and we take a look at two employment law cases, Post Office v Liddiard and May & Baker Ltd (t/a Sanofi-Aventis Pharma) v Okerago, concerning employee conduct during this sporting celebration. Presenter Noelle Murphy is joined by Fiona Cuming.
Enforcing the protection that restrictive covenants provide can be difficult and legally complex, particularly at a time when key commercial interests are at stake and emotions are running high. Special guest, Patrick Brodie, Head of Employment at law firm RPC and XpertHR contributing author, takes you through what you need to know about restrictive covenants to protect your business effectively.
Gender pay gap reports have now been published by more than 10,000 organisations. Mark Crail, content director at XpertHR including the XpertHR gender pay gap reporting service, discusses the main findings from the reports, how best to use the data internally and externally, and the dos and don'ts when preparing reports for 2019.
Managing the needs of a bereaved employee is one of most sensitive issues that HR professionals can face. Sheila Attwood, XpertHR managing editor for pay and HR practice, talks us through the support that employers can give employees at the time of a bereavement. We are also joined by Andy Langford from Cruse, a national bereavement charity, to tell us about the employee experience and how they would like to be supported by their employer.
With the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on 25 May 2018 fast approaching, we highlight the new and updated resources on XpertHR that will help with your GDPR preparation, whatever stage you are at. If you are just beginning to think about your GDPR compliance, we point out the practical guidance on XpertHR that will help with getting started. If you are further down the line in implementing your compliance plan, we direct you to where you can find more detailed guidance and answers to the tricky questions that will arise as you go along. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Susie Munro.
People analytics is one of the most significant processes to affect the HR function - the business insight it offers can ensure HR enjoys a level of influence within organisations rarely seen before. Sjoerd van den Heuvel, a researcher and lecturer at the Utrecht University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, and expert in people analytics, joins us to provide some practical guidelines on the hows and whys of getting involved. Presenter Noelle Murphy is joined by Sjoerd van den Heuvel.
Ensuring a redundancy process stands up to inspection while minimising the impact on remaining employees is a an ongoing challenge for HR practitioners. One of our oldest employment rights carries with it a series of common pitfalls. Max Winthrop, an employment law partner at Short Richardson and Forth LLP, joins us to give us the benefit of his experience of regularly advising on redundancy exercises, including how to ensure the consultation process is meaningful and ensuring selection criteria are fair and robust.
Enabling the return to work of employees on long-term sickness absence remains an ongoing issue for employers, despite the Government's decision to close the Fit for Work assessment service, following low referral rates. Eversheds Sutherland partner Naeema Choudry joins us to discuss what the demise of the service means for employers and the options available when assessing employees on long-term sickness absence.
In the recent decision of The Sash Window Workshop and another v King, the ECJ opened up the risk of unpaid holiday claims being brought by "workers" treated as self-employed. Nick Chronias, employment partner at DAC Beachcroft LLP, explains the implications of the decision and the steps employers can take to mitigate against the risk. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Nick Chronias.
The quality of leadership can distinguish a successful organisation from a struggling one. Nigel Paine, a learning and development specialist, author and broadcaster, joins us to explain why leadership development is so important and how organisations can deliver it to maximum effect.
Using mediation to resolve workplace conflict can be a highly effective tool for employers. Aled Davies, an expert in mediation, joins us to explain how mediation can take place at work and the benefits it can offer. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Aled Davies.
We predict the key cases for 2018 and assess their likely impact. We explain why employment status will remain in the spotlight, and we discuss the ramifications of the ECJ's recent decision on holiday pay.
With organisations having already published or preparing to publish their first gender pay gap reports, Mark Crail, content director for XpertHR, takes a look at where we are now, including:
- the number of reports that have been published;
- what reports should contain;
- how to identify target audiences for reports; and
- examples of good and bad reporting.
Presenter Zuraida Curtis is joined by Mark Crail.
Handling redundancies where affected employees include those who are pregnant or on maternity leave can give rise to some tricky issues. Understanding what the law allows you to do, including the special protections that can apply, is crucial to ensuring a fair process. Jo Broadbent, who is a professional support lawyer with Hogan Lovells, explains the key features of the law including: how the selection process operates; the duty to offer suitable alternative employment; entitlement to notice pay and statutory maternity pay; and strategies to deal with some of the common pitfalls. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Jo Broadbent.
Kate Pritchard, director of research at ORC International, joins us to discuss emerging trends in employee engagement, including: the "Engage for Success" movement; the impact of technology; survey response rates and turnaround times; the frequency of surveys, together with the use of pulse surveys; and the potential impact of the EU General Data Protection Regulation. Presenter Noelle Murphy is joined by Kate Pritchard.
Special guest Brad Taylor, Head of People at CIPD, joins us to discuss the findings of the XpertHR HR careers survey 2017 and provides a valuable insight into the HR profession.
In the second part of our two-part podcast on TUPE, special guests Patrick Brodie and Kelly Thomson clear up some common TUPE myths.
In part one of our two-part podcast on TUPE, we discuss how to inform and consult employees on a TUPE transfer to ensure as smooth a transfer as possible. Special guests Patrick Brodie and Kelly Thomson, TUPE specialists at law firm RPC and XpertHR contributing authors, run through their top tips on informing and consulting.
In the recent decision in Agoreyo v London Borough of Lambeth, the High Court held that the suspension of a teacher was a "knee-jerk" reaction and in breach of the implied term of trust and confidence between the employer and employee. Nicky Green, professional support lawyer at Capsticks, explains why this case is an important reminder of the steps an employer should take before deciding whether or not to suspend an employee. Nicky also discusses the process that an employer should follow when it decides that suspension is necessary and appropriate. Presenter Fiona Cuming is joined by Nicky Green.
Employers have a degree of flexibility when deciding how to deal with employee grievances. We look at how to take a common sense approach to grievances, including when to take informal action, what to do if employees are reluctant to get involved with a formal procedure, and the potential outcomes to consider. Presenter Qian Mou is joined by Susie Munro.
Employers continue to be confused by the concept of constructive dismissal. Max Winthrop, employment partner at Short Richardson & Forth LLP, explains constructive dismissal, including: what action on the part of an employer may entitle an employee to resign; the level of connection required between the employer's actions and the employee's resignation; and strategies for defending a constructive dismissal claim in the employment tribunal.
Employers are increasingly required to deal with employees covertly recording disciplinary and grievance meetings. With the prevalence of sophisticated recording devices, including mobile phones, this trend is likely to continue. In this week's podcast, we discuss how an employer should deal with covert recordings. In particular we look at the cases of Punjab National Bank (International) Ltd and others v Gosain and Zia and others v Brighton University Foundation Trust and others and offer practical advice for employers to follow. Presented by Laura Merrylees and Zuraida Curtis.
In the recent decision in Dudley Council v Willets and others, the Employment Appeal Tribunal found that regular voluntary overtime carried out by employees should be included in the calculation of holiday pay. Nick Chronias, employment partner at DAC Beachcroft LLP, explains the legal implications of the decision for employers. We go on to discuss what employers should be doing differently as a result of the decision. Presenter Jeya Thiruchelvam is joined by Nick Chronias.
In a landmark judgment on 26 July 2017, the Supreme Court, in the case of R (on the application of Unison) v Lord Chancellor, found that employment tribunal fees prevented access to justice and were unlawful. Laurie Anstis, employment lawyer and part-time employment judge, takes us through what this judgment means for employers including the likely short-term and long-term implications.
Fiona Rushforth, senior associate at law firm Wedlake Bell, joins us to discuss the key principles and recommendations of Matthew Taylor's review of modern employment practices. We look at what this review means for employers and in particular, we discuss the following recommendations: the renaming of worker status to dependent contractor status; changes to the worker status test; closing the loophole that allows agency workers to be paid less than employees doing the same job; the calculation of pay in the gig economy; the payment of a higher national minimum wage for non-guaranteed hours in a contract; and tribunal fees and the enforcement process for awards. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Fiona Rushforth.
In this week's podcast, we look at how employers can manage poorly performing employees in an effective and proactive manner. In particular, we cover: giving feedback to underperforming employees; the standard of performance that is expected of employees; following a fair performance management process; and redeployment in the context of poorly performing employees. We also briefly look at Matthew Taylor's review of modern employment practices. Presenter Jeya Thiruchelvam is joined by XpertHR consultant editor Darren Newman.
We provide a mid-year round-up of high profile employment cases in 2017. We discuss two disability discrimination cases relating to absence management (O'Brien v Bolton St Catherine's Academy) and recruitment (Government Legal Service v Brookes). We also look at one of the first employment tribunal cases relating to shared parental pay (Ali v Capita Customer Management Ltd) and two European Court of Justice cases on religious dress (Achbita and another v G4S Secure Solutions and Bougnaoui and another v Micropole SA). We finish by flagging up some upcoming cases in 2017 involving whistleblowing, the gig economy and employment status, and discuss the outstanding decisions regarding the tribunal fees regime and carrying over annual leave. Presented by Ellie Gelder and Laura Merrylees.
Identifying the correct selection pool is a fundamental part of establishing a fair redundancy process. Getting this wrong at the outset can undermine the rest of the process. In this week's podcast, we provide practical advice on the factors to consider when identifying a selection pool. In particular, we look at: the steps an employer can take if there is no agreed procedure on pooling in place; what to do if only one person is affected by the redundancy; an employer's discretion over the size of the pool; how to approach redundancies across multiple sites; and how to deal with employees that are absent on sick leave or maternity leave. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Zeba Sayed.
In this week's podcast, we discuss five areas in which the risk of reputational damage can be an issue for employers, and what HR professionals can do to reduce the risk of their organisation's reputation being damaged.
Interviewing a candidate is one of the most challenging parts of the recruitment process. Preparing effectively can help to ensure that the outcome is successful, and that the interview is conducted in a fair and non-discriminatory manner. In this week's podcast, we discuss the problems that can occur during an interview and provide practical tips on how to get the most out of the process. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Bar Huberman.
Although organisations are increasingly aware of the new requirements under the EU General Data Protection Regulation, many are not sure how the GDPR will affect HR function. We discuss how HR will contribute to the GDPR compliance process. In particular, we look at possible HR roles in: conducting a data audit or creating a data map; identifying legal grounds to process employment-related data; and reviewing HR policies and procedures to ensure that they incorporate GDPR requirements. Presenter Jeya Thiruchelvam is joined by Qian Mou.
In this week's podcast, we explain what HR should do when faced with some tricky scenarios related to the right to be accompanied at disciplinary hearings. The seven scenarios discussed include a worker requesting a companion with a history of disruptive behaviour, and a worker asking for a postponement at the last minute to find a companion. Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Stephen Simpson.
In this week's podcast, we look at how employers can prepare in advance to get the most out of probationary periods. In particular, we look at: contractual provisions on probationary periods; setting expectations and objectives; addressing performance and conduct issues; extending the probationary period; and confirming the employee in post. Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Susie Munro.
In this week's podcast, we explain the basics of the national minimum wage and highlight some of the pitfalls for employers.
In this week's podcast, we give an overview of the apprenticeships system, focusing on the situation for employers in England. We take a look at: the funding system, including the apprenticeship levy and online apprenticeship accounts; the difference between apprenticeship frameworks and standards; apprenticeship agreements; and the employment rights of apprentices. Presenter Jeya Thiruchelvam is joined by Susie Munro.
We discuss the key findings of our new research on employers' annual leave offerings and explain how employers are working out holiday pay in the light of the glut of case law in recent years. Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Michael Carty and Stephen Simpson.
In this week's podcast, we look at some key areas of consideration for an employer with an employee on long-term sickness absence and possible pitfalls to avoid. In particular, we cover: - obtaining medical advice on the employee's condition and fitness for work; - holiday in the context of long-term sickness absence; - managing an employee on long-term sickness absence who is disabled; and some of the steps you'll need to take before considering dismissal for incapability. Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Sarah Anderson.
We discuss different aspects of short-term sickness absence and explore the practical steps that employers can take when dealing with this type of absence. Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Sarah Anderson.
In this week's podcast, we discuss the factors to consider when carrying out recruitment advertising. In particular, we look at: using the most appropriate media to advertise vacancies; equality issues around the placing of job adverts; avoiding discriminatory wording; the pros and cons of including salary details in a job advert; and whether or not employers must adhere to stated application deadlines. Presenter Jeya Thiruchelvam is joined by Clio Springer.
In this week's podcast, we examine several legal cases as we explore the situations where an employer may be found to be vicariously liable for an individual's negligent or discriminatory actions. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Fiona Cuming.
We discuss the new duty on employers with 250 or more employees to report annually on their gender pay gap, and explore the differences between the requirements for the private and voluntary sectors and the public sector. Presenter Susan Dennehy is joined by Nicky Green from law firm Capsticks.
Private-sector organisations have predicted their pay awards. In this podcast we look at the median basic pay increase employers are expecting to award employees in the year 2017/18. The podcast covers: pay levels in the private sector; pay awards in relation to the rate of inflation; factors shaping the level of pay increases; the top priorities for reward departments; and the uprating of the national minimum wage and the national living wage. Presenter Jeya Thiruchelvam is joined by Jo Jacobs and Sheila Attwood.
In this week's podcast, we discuss the reasons behind the decisions in Uber, CitySprint and Pimlico Plumbers. We explore the factors that employers may wish to consider where they are engaging individuals on a self-employed basis. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Fiona Rushforth, senior associate at Wedlake Bell, law firm.
Requirements for women to wear high heels, make-up and a skirt were common in the 1970s, but do such requirements have any place in a 21st-century employer's dress code? In this week's podcast, we discuss the recent controversy around sexism in workplace dress codes. Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Stephen Simpson.
We discuss the key employment law trends and changes that are affecting the HR landscape, including: gender pay gap reporting; the Trade Union Act 2016; public-sector exit payments and employment status. Hosts Laura Merrylees and Ellie Gelder are joined by Darren Newman, leading employment law expert.
In this week's podcast, we explore the steps that you can take to reduce the risk of having an indirectly discriminatory provision, criterion or practice. We also discuss what to take into account when deciding whether or not indirect discrimination can be justified. Presenter Jeya Thiruchelvam is joined by Bar Huberman. Edited and produced by Clare Allerton.
We discuss the use of social media in the recruitment process and look at the results of our recent survey on the topic. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Jo Jacobs and Susie Munro.
We discuss the problems that can occur when colleagues are in a relationship, and what HR can do to manage those issues. We also answer some commonly asked questions, including whether or not it can be harassment to ask a co-worker out on a date. Subjects covered in this week's podcast on personal relationships at work include: whether or not employers need a written policy; what rules can be included in a policy; how to deal with conduct issues related to a workplace relationship; and questions that have arisen in case law. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Stephen Simpson.
In this week's podcast, we discuss common pitfalls to avoid when having a difficult conversation in the workplace. We also look at top tips for approaching difficult topics of conversation, including how to gain confidence to handle the conversation by preparing for it. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Bar Huberman.
In this week's podcast, we discuss common assumptions about millennial employees and provide good practice guidance on managing an intergenerational workforce. We look at age discrimination and consider how employers can avoid claims when developing recruitment and retention programmes. Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Qian Mou and Michael Carty.
In this week's podcast, we discuss what employers can do to help ensure that an employee's maternity leave runs smoothly. We look at the questions that employees may have before they go on maternity leave and the importance of clear communication to avoid unexpected issues arising during the leave period. Presenter Jeya Thiruchelvam is joined by Susie Munro.
In this week's feature-length podcast, we discuss the key legislative developments affecting employers in 2017, including: gender pay gap reporting; the apprenticeship levy; public-sector exit payments and changes to statutory rates. With many of the changes likely to affect employers of all sizes and in differing sectors, we consider what employers need to do to prepare and plan for the year ahead and beyond. Presented by Laura Merrylees and Ellie Gelder.
On this week's XpertHR Weekly, which is the second part of a two-part interview with special guest Max Winthrop, we continue our journey through a typical employment tribunal hearing. Max, an employment partner at Short Richardson & Forth LLP, explains what happens after both parties have given their evidence. He covers closing submissions, how the tribunal will deliver its judgment and deal with remedies, the recovery of costs and the lessons that can be learned from both victory and defeat. Presenter Jeya Thiruchelvam is joined by Max Winthrop.
On this week's XpertHR Weekly, we tell you how to prepare for, and what to expect at an employment tribunal hearing. We are joined by special guest, employment partner at Short Richardson & Forth LLP and XpertHR employment law manual updating author, Max Winthrop. He prepares you for what happens at a typical tribunal hearing starting from what do when you arrive at the tribunal on the morning of the hearing all the way through to what to do when the tribunal delivers its judgment. Presenter Jeya Thiruchelvam is joined by Max Winthrop.
In this week's podcast, we discuss the issues that can arise when a job offer is made but subsequently has to be withdrawn. We look at how a job offer can result in an employment contract being formed and ways in which employers can limit their liabilities in the event that they need to withdraw a job offer because, for example, the job applicant has failed to meet certain required conditions or the employer's financial situation has changed. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Clio Springer.
In this week's feature-length podcast, we discuss the key legislative developments affecting employers in 2017, including: gender pay gap reporting; the apprenticeship levy; public-sector exit payments and changes to statutory rates. With many of the changes likely to affect employers of all sizes and in differing sectors, we consider what employers need to do to prepare and plan for the year ahead and beyond. Presented by Laura Merrylees and Ellie Gelder.
In this week's podcast, we discuss the latest trends and challenges in a competitive recruitment market, including skills shortages and the time and cost to hire. We also look at candidate attraction and job application methods, as well as the role of line managers. Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Jo Jacobs.
In this week's podcast, we predict the key cases for 2017. We explain why employment status in the gig economy will be a big talking point, and flag up a major equal pay case against a private-sector employer. We also explain how case law on the definition of "in the public interest" in whistleblowing is expected to develop, and look forward to Unison's final bid to have employment tribunal fees ruled unlawful. We finish by flagging up two European cases on religious discrimination in dress codes, and provide a warning that employers have not seen the last of the case law on "discrimination arising from disability". Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Stephen Simpson.
In this week's feature-length podcast, Sarah Thompson, employment lawyer and Certified Information Privacy Professional, explains the key features of the General Data Protection Regulation (2016/679 EU) (GDPR) and guides employers through the practical steps that they will need to take to ensure compliance. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Sarah Thompson.
We discuss practical steps that employers can take to avoid bad behaviour, such as sexual harassment and fighting, at their workplace Christmas party. We also look at attendance and absence issues involving: unauthorised absence; refusal to work overtime; annual leave requests; and attendance allowances.
In this week's feature-length podcast, our special guest, payroll consultant Kate Upcraft, explains the pensions auto-enrolment requirements and the impact that they have on employers' duties in relation to pension provision. Presenter Clio Springer is joined by Kate Upcraft.
In this week's feature-length podcast, we are joined by special guest, HR consultant Debra Cadman, to explore the process of managing an HR change, such as the introduction of a new policy or a new system for recording sickness absence. Presenter Bar Huberman is joined by Debra Cadman.
In this week's podcast, we look at flexible working requests focusing on issues that may arise when women returning from maternity leave request a change to their working hours. We discuss two recent employment tribunal decisions, Whiteman v CPS Interiors Ltd and Smith v Gleacher Shacklock LLP, and consider what practical steps employers can take to deal with flexible working requests in the required reasonable manner. Presenter Jeya Thiruchelvam is joined by Fiona Cuming.
In this week's podcast, we discuss pay award levels in 2016 and the likely level of employee pay increases in the year ahead. We take a look at the factors influencing employers' pay award decisions and other ways to engage employees through reward. Presenter Susan Dennehy is joined by Sheila Attwood.
In this week's podcast, we discuss sickness absence rates for 2015 and the associated costs, and the sickness absence trends that have emerged. We also look at the steps that employers can take to successfully manage sickness absence. Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Noelle Murphy and Sarah Anderson.
Matthew Lewis, employment partner at Squire Patton Boggs, explains the key features of the apprenticeship levy, due to come into force in April 2017. We discuss what it is and how it will impact on levy-paying and non-levy paying employers. We also offer practical guidance on what employers can do to get the most out of the levy. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Matthew Lewis.
In this week's feature-length podcast, Nicky Stibbs, freelance employment law writer, and Max Winthrop, employment partner at Short, Richardson & Forth LLP, answer key questions around disciplinary investigations and hearings, and dismissals, including: the Acas code of practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures; reliance on past warnings; the role of HR in the disciplinary process; the right to be accompanied; probationary employees; and automatic unfair dismissals. We also discuss more generally the risks that can arise when dismissing an employee with less than two years' service.
In this week's feature-length podcast, employment lawyer and part-time employment judge Laurie Anstis provides an update on the key legal developments affecting employers from October 2016 and beyond, including: changes to the national minimum wage rates; reforms to employment tribunals; public-sector exit payments; important case decisions to look out for; the Trade Union Act 2016; and the apprenticeship levy. Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Laurie Anstis.
The introduction of employment tribunal fees has had a major impact on employment tribunal claims. We discuss the latest figures for tribunal claims and look forward to the future of employment tribunals, including plans to make all first-instance tribunal decisions available online and the possibility that employment tribunals will be replaced by an Employment and Equalities Court within the civil court structure. Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Stephen Simpson.
If an employee loses the right to work in the UK, the employer needs to take action or risk civil and criminal penalties. However, the employer must also consider its employment law obligations towards the individual. In this week's podcast, we discuss how employers should deal with a situation in which an employee no longer has the right to work in the UK. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Clio Springer.
The "gig economy" has received considerable media attention recently, with a number of public protests taking place by gig economy contractors and several high profile employment tribunal claims underway. In this week's podcast, we consider the employment law issues raised in these cases. We also discuss how to address the risks faced by organisations that hire freelancers through web applications. Presenter Bar Huberman is joined by Qian Mou.
There are a number of different family-friendly rights and it can be difficult to keep on top of them. We discuss the various types of family-friendly leave, including: who is entitled to the leave; the amount of leave available; any requirements for the leave; and whether or not it is paid. We also touch on the Government's plans to extend shared parental leave and pay to working grandparents. Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Sarah Anderson.
This week's podcast focuses on recruitment. We look at the results of our recent survey on graduate recruitment, including the starting salaries organisations are paying graduates and trends in how organisations attract graduate candidates. We also give an overview of probationary periods, including dismissal during or at the end of a probationary period. Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Michael Carty and Susie Munro.
Various issues can arise when employees take holiday. An employee may fail to return to work when due, or the employer may not have granted the leave in the first place. We discuss how employers can limit and deal with this type of unauthorised absence, as well as the steps that employers can take if employees fail to make arrangements for vital work to be covered in their absence. We also consider if it is reasonable for employers to contact employees while they are on holiday. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Clio Springer.
Drug and alcohol misuse in the workplace can be a sensitive topic. We discuss how employers can support employees with substance misuse issues and respond to drug- or alcohol-related incidents in the workplace. We also provide guidance on drug and alcohol testing and discuss recent employment tribunal cases in this area. Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Qian Mou.
Five years on from the abolition of the default retirement age, we highlight four key retirement issues that have come before the tribunals and courts. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Stephen Simpson.
Worker representation is in the news after the Prime Minister promised to put workers on the boards of large companies as part of her plan to reform boardroom governance. We discuss the structures currently available for worker representation in the workplace, the role of works councils, the relevant law and the practical implications for employers. Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Fiona Cuming.
Consultant editor Darren Newman joins us to discuss the implications of the Trade Union Act 2016 for both public- and private-sector employers. Darren explores the likely impact of the Act, including the following key features: new rules on ballot thresholds and ballot mandates; electronic balloting; notice periods for industrial action; picketing; and changes to the check-off procedure and facility time in the public sector.
The Court of Appeal heard Lock and another v British Gas Trading Ltd, on commission in holiday pay, on 11 July. We round up where we are with holiday pay case law and flag up the key arguments that were discussed before the Court of Appeal in the Lock case. Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Stephen Simpson, and also Qian Mou and Fiona Cuming who attended the Lock hearing.
We provide a mid-year round-up of the key legal developments for employers, including the Trade Union Act, gender pay gap reporting, public-sector exit payments, the apprenticeship levy and the latest position on holiday pay cases. Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Laura Merrylees and Sheila Attwood.
Eversheds partner Naeema Choudry joins us to discuss how the Fit for Work service can benefit employers, even if they already have their own occupational health provision. The Fit for Work service can provide free assessments for employees on sickness absence and can recommend steps to help them to return to work. We look at the referral and assessment process and the role of the return-to-work plan as part of an employer's absence management procedure. Presenter Susie Munro is joined by Naeema Choudry.
We discuss a number of recent cases that concern NHS employers but that could also apply more widely. We look at the implications of the cases and steps that employers can take to help avoid the type of situations that arose. Presenter Clio Springer is joined by Susan Dennehy.
We discuss legal developments for employers with foreign workers, employers in the retail sector and public-sector employers, including some important dates to add to your diary. Presenter Bar Huberman is joined by Qian Mou.
In this week's podcast, consultant editor Darren Newman continues our look at the potential employment law implications of leaving the EU, including employment law changes, conversations about the referendum in the workplace, and dealing with concerns of EU employees who are worried about job security. Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Darren Newman.
We discuss how employers can take advantage of the employee engagement opportunities that major sporting events like Euro 2016 offer, as well as highlighting some of the issues that might arise during the event such as competing requests for time off and absenteeism. Presenter Ellie Gelder is joined by Sarah Anderson.
In this week's podcast we discuss how employers can measure, and then reward, employee performance, as well as highlighting some of the issues that employers should be aware of when using performance-related pay rises. Presenter Laura Merrylees is joined by Sheila Attwood.