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How An HR Consultancy Keeps You Compliant In the UK, modern laws, regulations and standards are designed to protect employees from unfair treatment by ensuring balanced and equitable workplace practices. For SMEs, understanding these laws and implementing policies and...
Navigating HR Challenges: 5 Ways HR Consultancies Aid SMEs In the fast-paced and ever-changing landscape of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), achieving success is a journey full of unique challenges. From talent acquisition and compliance to employee...
Remote Work Revolution: A Complete Guide for SMEs Over the last few years, the landscape of business has shifted towards remote work becoming less of a novelty and more of a reality. Across the United Kingdom, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are adapting to...
The Government has launched a new consultation on IR35. They are looking to introduce a statutory measure which could impact tax settlements with HMRC where liabilities arise under the off-payroll working (IR35) rules. The consultation will be of interest to any...
Stress awareness month has been held in April since 1992 raising awareness of what causes and what cures there are for our increasing modern day stress epidemic Stress is something that everyone feels at times, especially when dealing with change or life challenges...
According to the CIPD Labour Market Outlook, Winter 2021-2022, employers are set to award pay increases of 3%, this is the highest that has been reported since 2012-2013 winter. However, the cost of living is increasing daily, due to all the increases taking place,...
Why this is a common question. This is a common interview question as the interviewer needs to ascertain why out of all the other candidates you should be offered the role and why you will be an asset to the organisation. This is one of many questions the interviewer...
What is diabetes? There are 2 main types of diabetes: Type 1 – where the body attacks cells that provide insulin Type 2 – where the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or the body doesn’t react to insulin The majority of people with diabetes in the UK have Type 2. A...
What is EAP? An EAP is a workplace wellness programme. The goal of an EAP is to provide employees with the tools and resources that they need to improve their mental health and help balance their work/life. According to the CIPD: “Mental health-related absence is the...
On average the regular employee spends a third of each day in their workplace, and therefore it stands to reason that the condition of the physical working environment in which employees spend so much time are highly impactful on their job satisfaction, motivation,...
An email switch off policy encourages all employees to log out of their work email accounts and intranets outside of their regular working hours. With many employees continuing to work from home or in hybrid working arrangements, the benefits of an employee’s right to...
Employee absence is a significant cost for many businesses, yet research suggests that only a minority of employers monitor that cost. Apart from annual holiday entitlement, an employee may need time off for the following reasons: Short term or long term sickness,...
Strategies to Reduce Employee Absenteeism in the Workplace Absenteeism causes a financial burden to any business, as well as discontent amongst staff who are left to pick up the workload of an absent colleague. But there are things to be done to reduce absenteeism in...
Sometimes it can all seem a bit of a minefield for employers when it comes to statutory rights to time off for parents. With a variety of “options” and certain rules regarding notice to be given; it is always wise to sense check the latest government regulations....
What is HR software? HR software is a ‘human resource management system’ and essentially is a tool to make managing people easier. We are going to explore how it does this and what benefits it gives your business. Some big benefits: Time-Saving You have a...
How to Answer, ‘Why are you Applying for this Position?’ In almost every interview you experience, you can expect to be asked the common interview questions, ‘why do you want this job?’ Interviewers want to try to ascertain your knowledge, passion and enthusiasm for...
Religion and Belief discrimination is illegal in the UK. Religion is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2021. Employees in the workplace can belong to various religions and have various beliefs. Employers have a duty to support employees regardless of...
This is a common interview question that many candidates will not understand the deeper meaning of, they may think this is a quick easy question I can answer by responding with ‘I have the skills in this area/field of work’ or ‘this is a position I am interested in...
As a leader, your most important role is to provide clear direction to your employees. A leader must ensure that their team members understand what their individual goal and the team goal is and how to work towards achieving them. To develop yourself to become a...
Job interviews can be nerve-racking, so it is important to prepare for them thoroughly – not just in terms of researching the company, but ensure you look at the job description in relation to what the company does, and think about how the duties may relate to the...
Getting candidates for a job opening may seem like an easy task, good hours, good salary, advertisement is promoted well and there you have it, however, those with the most skills within the talent pool know their worth and take a lot more than just good salary to...
Feeling confident, and doing well in an interview starts with preparation…and a great interview outfit that you feel comfortable in. When you receive that exciting invite, take note of the detail, paying particular attention to anything you need to do ready for the...
What is the HR department for? The Human Resources department deals with your most important resource: your people. This encompasses all your employees and potentially any workers, contractors or volunteers. With such a wide scope it helps to narrow this down and look...
Unfortunately, one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage. A miscarriage can affect a woman and her partner in different ways, and both will need support and help from their employers if they suffer a miscarriage. However early a miscarriage takes place it is a loss...
Euro 2020 has taken over the nation as teams are underway in the long-awaited competition. Due to the pandemic this competition was cancelled last year but has been allowed, with restrictions, to go ahead this summer. The group stages have already been played and we...
In the UK more than 11 million people are living with hearing loss, there are different causes of hearing loss, these include: Exposure to loud noises Genetics Ear conditions Being born with deafness If someone is deaf or has hearing loss then under the Equality Act...
Interviews are a great opportunity to get a sense of the job you have applied for and the employees that currently work there. Equally, they allow the employer to get a sense of you, and whether or not you are the right person for their role. Think of this experience...
Zero-hour contracts have become increasingly popular in the UK, particularly with the growth of the gig economy, the Economics Online report 1.8 million workers in the UK are on zero-hour contracts, and the Office for National Statistics has reported a 300% increase...
What is Performance Related Pay? Performance related pay (PRP) is a process that links an employee’s salary increase to their individual performance. The concept of PRP is that performance is measured against pre-agreed objectives agreed between a manager and...
Before we get started, here are some statistic for employers taken from Alcohol Change UK; More than 25 million adults in England regularly drink alcohol. Lost productivity due to alcohol use costs the UK economy more than £7 billion each year. 35% of people say...
A New Year can often mean a new start for many people. January and February are often the busiest months, with people looking for a new job. However 2021 will be a different start to the year than what employers are used to due to Covid-19. Businesses will usually be...
Excluding sickness absence due to the coronavirus pandemic, sickness absence rates in the UK have fallen to their lowest records at 1.7% in the private sector, with experts advising employees are coming into work when they are unwell. Here are some (pre COVID-19)...
An unlawful deduction of wages occurs when an employee has either been unpaid or has been underpaid their wages by their employer for some reason. There must have been an actual deduction of wages, not just a threat or proposal to deduct money, for it to be classed as...
Following the pandemic some companies may be thinking of restructuring to be able to remain in business and remain competitive. It is essential companies plan for a restructure to ensure it will be achieved successfully. A restructure is changing how a business is...
With the coronavirus pandemic we’ve all been a bit distracted recently from the fact the UK is currently in an implementation (or transition) period of leaving the EU, which is due to end on 31st December 2020. Key facts; The freedom of movement between the UK and EU...
Anyone wishing to make a tribunal claim must complete a form to tell ACAS why they intend to make a claim. ACAS will try to help employees reach an agreement with employers before a tribunal claim is made. This process is called early conciliation. ACAS is a...
Employers use competitive remuneration packages to attract and retain the very best employees. Skilled and high-quality talented individuals are constantly in high demand and many businesses are in competition with one another. A good remuneration package adds to an...
There are three main categories of work, permanent, temporary and contract. Temporary employees - what are they and why use them? Temporary employees work for a specific length of time or until a specific project or workload is completed. They do not require a fixed...
Instead of being made redundant, an employee may be offered another job role with the company, which is classed as suitable alternative employment, if the employee has redundancy rights – been employed with the employer for at least 2 years by the time the job ends....
Following the Government announcement on 31st October 2020 those living in England will enter into a second national lockdown from 5th November 2020, with people in England being advised to ‘stay at home’ and non-essential shops, leisure, pubs, restaurants, cafes,...
The Government have amended the Employment Tribunal Rules of Procedure to increase the capacity of employment tribunals to hear claims. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a backlog in the administration of Employment Tribunal Claims leading to lengthy delays in...
Many facets make up our usual working environment from the overflowing car park, polished corridor floors to the worn office chairs and everything in between. Overnight, our pressed suits and daily commutes were replaced with ‘respectable’ pyjama combinations and a...
What is Organisational Development? Organisational Development is a planned effort for a work group or the organisation, it is managed by leadership and supported by employees to increase the organisations effectiveness through planned changes in processes and...
Unauthorised absence refers to a situation where an individual fails to come to work without providing a reason or notifying their employer. It is also commonly referred to as ‘AWOL’ (Absent Without Leave) or ‘Absent Without Permission.’ Read on to learn more about...
Having a temperature of 37.8 degrees or more is one of the main symptoms of Covid-19. Many companies are introducing a Covid temperature check policy where temperature checks are performed upon entry to the workplace, to see if employees have a temperature of 37.8 or...
Update on the new job support scheme Since the announcement about the New Job Support Scheme starting from the 1st November 2020 the HM Treasury has clarified certain parts that were causing confusion. Job Support Scheme rules Employees and employers do not have to...
The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak has announced a new Job Support Scheme today (24th September 2020) to replace the Job Retention Scheme which ends at the end of October 2020. This will directly support the wages of people in work, giving businesses the option of keeping...
The government has an easy to use system for checking someone’s eligibility to work in the UK which can be accessed via www.gov.uk/legal-right-work-uk. Employers can use this service to find out: Which type of documents give someone the right to work in the UK; What...
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted workplaces severely since it hit the UK in March 2020. The world was completely unprepared for the pandemic that occurred, businesses had to close, employees were placed on furlough leave, businesses operated on skeleton staffing...
What are the changes to the job retention scheme from 1st September 2020? From 1st September furloughed employees will still receive 80% of their normal wage, but the government will only pay 70% of this pay. Employers are required to pay 10% towards the wages to pay...
Employers may look to change employees’ terms and conditions of employment for several reasons including: Reduce pay or benefits; Change employees’ responsibilities; Change to working hours or days; Change to an employee’s place of work. Employers should consider...
What is Jury Service? Jury Service is a public duty within the UK, where individuals can be called to serve on active UK court cases such as assault, fraud and murder. As it’s a public duty, fines can be issued against individuals who do not turn up for jury service....
In the UK there are three different types of employment statuses under the Employment Rights Act 1996. Make sure you’re aware of yours and, as an employer, the status of each of your workforce. What is an Employment Status? A person’s employment status is what defines...
On 10th July 2020, the government introduced a travel corridor list of exempt countries that people could travel to. People arriving in the UK from any of these exempt countries would not be required to self-isolate if they had not also visited a non-exempt country in...
What is summary dismissal? Summary dismissal is when an employee is dismissed with immediate effect without any notice or pay in lieu of notice (PILON) Summary dismissal normally occurs when an employee has committed gross misconduct. Gross misconduct can be justified...
What is Unpaid Leave? Unpaid leave in the UK is when an employee takes time off work and has no legal right to be paid for the time away from work. There is little legislation relating to the unpaid leave entitlement, however, there are two areas where unpaid leave is...
To regain competitive advantage in the world of business and for companies to become more successful following the coronavirus pandemic, companies will need to look at their employment practices. Covid-19 has impacted businesses in the following ways: Many forced to...
Why is coaching becoming so popular and sought-after Personal development and coaching are becoming hugely popular in the workplace as the millennial generation seek the fastest way to become successful and improve their earning potential at work. Many workers are...
Have a redundancy plan Having a redundancy plan allows businesses to share information with their employees and help them to understand what is happening which makes it crucial to managing redundancies. The plan will help to manage each stage of the redundancy process...
During the Coronavirus pandemic there has been more burden placed on HR Professionals, managers, and employees. The pandemic has changed: The way people live; The way people work. The way of life over the last 6 months has been completely different to what anyone has...
Direct discrimination is when someone is treated unfairly because of a protected characteristic. Under the Equality Act, there are nine protected characteristics which include; age disability gender reassignment marriage and civil partnership pregnancy and maternity...
Suffering the loss of a family member, partner or friend can be devastating, grieving employees need to be supported in the workplace and it’s important to realise grief affects everyone differently. Some people want to get on with their daily lives and busy...
What is performance management? Employees are critical to the success of companies and to achieve success, employees need to be heading in the same direction. Performance management is a way to get employees there. Performance management is an ongoing process between...
Change management is a structured approach for ensuring that changes are thoroughly and smoothly implemented, and that the lasting benefits of change are achieved. It requires businesses to define and adopt strategies, structures, procedures, and technologies to cope...
On 8 July 2020, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the Government’s Plan for Jobs 2020. As part of that plan, Mr Sunak introduced a new Job Retention Bonus that will be payable in some circumstances to employers that bring employees back from furlough. More detail...
We are into the summer holiday season and families are taking advantage of the recent ease of lockdown measures to get away. However, given the unpredictability of coronavirus rates and the likelihood of government responses to spikes in infection rates overseas,...
Occupational Health (OH) looks at an individual’s health and how their health may be contributing or affecting work and their role in the workplace. OH seeks to promote and maintain the health and wellbeing of employees, with the aim of ensuring a positive...
Covid-19 has seen a rapid and continuous change to many companies, during this time good communication with employees has proved vital as the normal work-life that employees have been used to has changed dramatically over the last few months. Employees have found...
Prepare Now For a Potential New Wave of Coronavirus Infections This Winter. The UK government has recently announced a further easing of lockdown in the UK and are hopeful that we will see a "significant return to normality" by Christmas. However, there is much...
With so many HR and employment policies recommended to businesses, it can be difficult to know which are the most essential. Keep reading to learn the top 13 HR policies a company should have to stay compliant with employment contracts and UK employment law. What are...
New guidelines on the job retention scheme has clarified which non-employees’ companies can claim for under the CJRS these include: Office Holders Office holders can be furloughed and receive support through the scheme. Furlough and other payments will need to be...
What is flexible furlough? Flexible furlough allows employers to have flexibility in how and when they furlough employees. This means they can vary the times and days that employees work during a week. With flexible furlough there are no minimum hours that need to be...
On 8th June 2020, the government enforced a two-week quarantine period for anyone arriving in the UK. This included people who were traveling broad on holiday or for other purposes. Upon return to the UK people were required to self-isolate for 14 days and should:...
With the Black Lives Matter movement surging across the globe, businesses should take the impetus to look within at how they deal with inclusion within the work environment. To ensure full employee satisfaction and increases in performance any barriers around...
Unless employees are confident enough to speak out, issues like sexual harassment, discrimination, health and safety failings and unethical behaviour can be hidden in a business. Employee voice is about the people being able to communicate their views to their...
A contract of employment is a legally binding agreement between an employer and employee. In the UK, the term ‘employee’ is defined by the Employment Rights Act 1996 as an individual who has entered into or works under a contract of service or apprenticeship. In the...
The coronavirus outbreak has caused huge changes to the way we work, and left many of us without our usual support systems. Therefore, it’s more important than ever before to reflect on what keeps us well and identify how we can look after our wellbeing during this...
When was flexible furlough introduced? From 1st July the furlough scheme changed to become more flexible since it commenced in March. From 1st July employees can work part-time and be furloughed for the remaining hours of their working week. Hours of work need to be...
Do employees have the right to work from home? The current government advice is if people can work from home then they should do, however, there is no legal right for an employee to work from home, but it is advisable that any employee who can effectively work from...
Millions of people shielding from coronavirus will be advised that they can spend more time outside their homes from Monday 6th July. People who have been shielding for the last 3 months remain vulnerable and are advised to still take precautions. However, the...
In an increasingly online world, many people ask: `Do I still need a CV?’ Clover HR believe the answer is `Yes.’ A CV is not only helpful but necessary. CV is an abbreviation for the Latin for ‘course of life’, i.e. experience. Which is what a potential employer is...
Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus pandemic and the shrunken economy, redundancies are likely to happen across the UK. Under UK law if an employer is dismissing 20 or more people due to redundancy then they must consult with representatives of affected employees in...
Flexibility is being able to adjust to short term change quickly and calmly so that unexpected problems or tasks can be dealt with effectively. Companies who allow flexible working and have a positive approach to flexibility can be more versatile, resilient, and...
Father’s day is a day of honouring fatherhood and paternal bonds, as well as the influence of fathers in society. Father’s day is celebrated this year on Sunday 21st June. Fathers as a whole are much more involved in raising their children than they have historically...
Creating an Effective CV In this changing world and during these unprecedented times, it is more important than ever to have a strong CV, highlighting your skills and experience to maximum effect. So Clover HR have put together a few ideas as to how to create an...
The NHS test and trace service is part of the government’s coronavirus recovery plan. The service provides: Testing for those with symptoms; The ability to get in touch with anyone who has a positive result to help share information on any close contact they have had...
Men’s Health Week raises awareness of health issues and getting men to become more aware of these health issues. This year Men’s Health Week runs from 15th-21st June 2020. How can work affect health? Good employee health is good for business; many hours are spent...
A 2-week quarantine period for anyone arriving in the UK was enforced from 8th June 2020. This includes people who travel abroad on holiday or for business travel. Upon their return to the UK people will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. When returning to the...
For many, working from home has become the new norm and the change in working habits can be a lot to take in. Over the last few months’ video calling has rocketed both from a professional and personal perspective, but how do you prepare for a professional virtual...
It is expected that at least a quarter of UK employers will make some form of redundancies as a result of the current pandemic. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) was implemented to avoid businesses making redundancies as a result of the current pandemic,...
Employers have a duty of care to take steps to ensure the health and safety and welfare of all their employees. Businesses that employ more than five people are legally obliged to have a written health and safety policy or statement which is circulated and available...
As a small business owner, you will wear many hats, balancing varying responsibilities and demands. Managing health and safety arrangements does not have to be complicated, but should always be a priority, as the cost of breaching health and safety could be severe....
What is Dismissal? Dismissal is the termination of employment by an employer against the will of the employee. Any dismissal that occurs must be shown to have followed a fair procedure. When to dismiss an employee? Dismissal is normally deemed fair only if you...
Why have a disciplinary policy and procedure? However great a workforce you may have, no business is immune to unexpected issues around conduct arising which can lead to a disciplinary procedure needing to be enacted. There is a requirement for a statutory minimum...
What you need to consider before setting up your business You have a great idea for a business but don’t know where to start? Firstly, solidify your business idea by creating a business plan. Your aim with this business plan should be that anyone could pick it up and...
Under the UK’s current guidance for getting employees back into the workplace following the coronavirus outbreak, one of the measures is for businesses to introduce staggered hours. The idea is this would reduce the number of people travelling at any one time,...
Please find the latest furlough update below for you. A summary of the main points: 10 June 2020 will be the last day that employers can place employees on furlough. from 1 July, 'flexible furlough' is being introduced, meaning employees will be able to work part-time...
With homeworking likely to continue for many people over the coming months, what are the implications for businesses with employees working from home over a sustained period of time? Outlined below are some contractual and legal considerations; Review homeworking...
Coping with Anxiety The government are now encouraging employers and employees to agree working arrangements for employees to return to work. More than two-fifths of UK workers are anxious about the prospect of returning to work following the outbreak of coronavirus,...
The coronavirus outbreak is having a devastating impact on the construction industry. Most businesses in the industry are doing their best to keep sites operational wherever it is practical and safe to do so. The construction industry has played a key role during...
