HR & LEGAL SERVICES FOR YOUR BUSINESS 5 October 2023 | AshtonsLegal.co.uk
All the latest Employment & HR news for your business
Updated ACAS guidance on sickness absence
ACAS has recently released new and updated guidance.
The guidance affects the following:
- checking holiday entitlement and sick pay
- fit notes and proof of sickness
- time off for dependants/parents
- returning to work after absence
- creating absence policies
- recording and reducing sickness absence
- absence trigger points.
In light of this updated guidance, employers should check their processes and procedures for managing sickness absence. Persistent short-term sickness absence and long-term sickness absences are costly to any business. While they cannot be eliminated, they can be managed so as to minimise their impact on colleagues and the business generally.
Can an employer restrict an employee’s manifestation of religious beliefs?
In the case of Higgs v Farmor’s School, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) provided helpful guidance in assessing whether an employer’s interference with an employee’s right to freedom of expression constituted unlawful discrimination.
Employers must handle any issues arising from situations where employees with strong beliefs express opinions that conflict with the beliefs, rights or freedoms of others carefully and sensitively.
Menstruation, menstrual health and menopause in the workplace standard
The BSI (UK National Standards Body), after extensive research and consultation with experts and the public, published a new standard (BS30416) which aims to help organisations better support employees experiencing menopause or menstruation.
It sets out practice advice for reasonable adjustments and strategies to sit alongside current well-being initiatives.
The standard aims to provide examples of good practice by employers
Employment Law update
Employers need to be aware of several areas where legislation is currently at various stages of development which will become law over the next two years.
The following are of note:
- The Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act
- The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act
- The Carer’s Leave Act
- The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act
- Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill
You can find out more details in our full article by clicking 'Read more' below.
HR & Employment Law Breakfasts
You're invited to attend our Autumn HR & Employment Law Breakfasts!
As usual, we shall be running these events across the region, and you are welcome to attend whichever is most geographically convenient. A light breakfast will be supplied, and these events are free to attend.
Please click on the appropriate date and venue below to book:
The employment guidance for business portal
We have an easily accessible Ashtons Legal Online HR Portal for businesses, which contains over 95 HR documents, templates and draft letters, covering over 14 topics such as contracts and offer letters, disciplinary issues, flexible working, performance management, family leave, sickness absence, recruitment, termination of employment and redundancy.
If you would like unlimited one-year access to this portal, we charge £325 plus VAT.
Please get in touch by emailing us on enquiries@ashtonslegal.co.uk.
Ashtons Training Programme
These interactive courses are jointly run by Ashtons Legal and Ashtons HR Consulting in person or on Microsoft Teams.
The current dates and topics are:
- 11 October - Managing Mental Health, Wellbeing and Resilience
- 15 November - 2 Parts: Employment Law Awareness for Line Managers
- 7 February - TUPE
- 6 March - Data Protection in the Workplace
- 17 April - Equality and Diversity in the Workplace
- 22 May - Managing Employee Investigations
- 19 June - Managing Health Issues and Disabilities in the Workplace
- 11 September - Menopause and the Workplace - Manager Guidance
- 25 September - 2 Parts: Employment Law Awareness for Line Managers
- 16 October - Immigration and Right-to-Work Checks
- 13 November - Appraisals and Performance Management
All the info you need to know is on our Eventbrite where you can book your place!
Please remember that Ashtons Legal is available to assist you and your business with their full range of business, individual and injury law services including commercial and residential property, corporate advice, dispute resolution, family law, estate planning, personal injury and medical negligence.
We Can Help You
For specific advice for your business, please get in touch with our specialist Employment Law team on enquiry@ashtonslegal.co.uk or by calling 0330 404 0778.
The consultants at Ashtons HR Consulting are able to assist you with specialised advice from experienced HR Consultants. You can contact them by calling 0333 222 0989 or by emailing enquiry@ashtonhrconsulting.co.uk.
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