Why employee retention is key to business success and what you can do to improve it
We have been hearing that many employers, have faced substantial challenges with recruiting staff. Unemployment levels of UK citizens is generally at its lowest, meaning there are fewer candidates in the job market than ever before. The impact of Brexit, the subsequent change in immigration rules and the pandemic has meant that attracting overseas talent […]
Care worker added to the list of shortage occupations
UK Points based immigration system – update to the shortage occupation list As you know, Brexit saw the end of the free movement of people, which meant that the way in which UK employers recruited from outside the UK significantly changed. It meant UK employers needed to use a new points-based immigration system to recruit […]
Consultation to revoke COVID-19 vaccination legislation
Do you operate in the health and social care sector? Back on 31 January, Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced his belief that “it is no longer proportionate to require vaccination as a condition of deployment’” when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccination. As a result, the department for […]
Are you budgeting for the upcoming changes?
Statutory rate increases In early January, the Department for Work and Pensions proposed what the new rates of pay will be for the annual increase in April. These are expected to be as follows: The rates of Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay, Statutory Shared Parental Pay and Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay […]
10 Trends Which Will Shape Your HR Strategy
Each year, we look at the key trends that will shape HR strategies for employers, due to policy changes, social, economic, and political factors. It is likely that developments in HR policy will continue throughout 2022 and as we continue to adapt the way in which we work because of the pandemic, we must also […]
Seven things to do if COVID-19 restrictions in England end early
The latest COVID-19 development on 9 February raises the question of whether all COVID-19 restrictions will end early for England, including the requirement to self-isolate when positive. At present, we are working to measures being relaxed when the Regulations expire on 24 March, however, it was announced yesterday that the requirement to self-isolate may end […]
Outsource support with Right to Work and pre-employment DBS checks
Currently, employers may check the right to work online using the job applicants ‘share code’ or by checking the applicant’s original documentation. They may also use the Home Office’s Employer Checking Service to check an employee’s or job applicant’s immigration status. Positive feedback about the ability to make right to work checks remotely during the […]
Manufacturing company fined over hand-arm vibration
Metals fabrication company MTL Advanced Limited has been fined for health and safety breaches after a number of workers were diagnosed with hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) or carpal tunnel syndrome and other hand and arm conditions, consistent with prolonged use. Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is caused by occupational exposure to vibrating hand tools and in […]
Vaccinations may no longer be required in health and social care sector
Vaccinations may no longer be required to remain working in the health and social care sector. Yesterday, 31 January, Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced his belief that “it is no longer proportionate to require ‘Vaccination as a Condition of Deployment’”. The government are now consulting on revoking the […]
COVID-19 Q&A
With the government due to review the current COVID-19 measures on 26 January, join us live on Friday 28 January at 10am, as we discuss the latest developments and what this means for managing your people. We welcome all your HR and H&S questions as we discuss the latest developments with COVID-19. Webinar slides HR […]
Was a dismissal of an unvaccinated care worker because of their vaccination status fair?
What is the case about? This is a case that deals with whether an employer can fairly dismiss an employee for their failure to become fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Context For this case, it is essential to place context around the events of what happened. This is perhaps the first case that tests the position […]
Construction company heavily fined
Construction worker dies after falling from tower A construction company has been fined after a worker died as a result of falling from a mobile tower and later died in hospital. Cambridge Magistrates Court heard how Sean Harding was working from a mobile tower flattening a steel beam that was positioned on a door lintel. […]
Feefo Gold Trusted Service Award winners
We are delighted to announce that we have won a much-coveted national award for outstanding customer service. We have been awarded the prestigious Gold Trusted Service Award for 2022 from customer insights company Feefo. The annual awards shine a light on businesses who demonstrate an exceptional service to their customers. Winners are decided based on […]
2022: The HR Year Ahead
We welcome in the new webinar year by taking stock of what we can expect in 2022. This will include legal updates and what the main topics of interest and issues facing employers will be. 2022 will see businesses entering the first financial year following the end of the transition period post-Brexit, plus the financial […]
COVID-19: Self Isolation Update
The Government has announced that with effect from Monday 17 January 2022, people who are fully vaccinated will be able to reduce their self-isolation period after five full days of either experiencing symptoms or receiving a positive test result – whichever came first. They must though have two consecutive negative lateral flow tests taken on […]
Managing Annual Leave: Additional Bank Holidays
At the start of a new year, we usually see employees starting to plan and book annual leave for the year ahead. In 2022 though, there are several things coming up that an employer will need to consider and plan for which relate to their employees taking time off from the workplace. In 2022, we […]
The Health and Social Care Act 2008: Updated Regulations for 2022
COVID-19 mandatory vaccination regulations have now been introduced into the wider health and social care sector. The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) (No. 2) Regulations 2022 were made on the 6 January 2022 and came into force on 7 January 2022. There is currently a grace period in place, giving […]
January 2022: The latest on COVID-19
We start 2022 with a continued focus on COVID-19 and the challenges it continues to bring. We are seeing large numbers of new infections with the dominant variant in the UK now being Omicron; the variant which doubles in case numbers around every two to three days. In the week up to 31 December in […]
Training courses in 2022 – A year for learning with HR Solutions
2022 is upon us and now is the perfect time to invest in your teams to ensure they have the required skills and training, to help take your business forward. If the pandemic did nothing else, it kickstarted a revolution in how and where we work. Through new ways of flexible working, the changes that […]
SSP and Covid – Reimbursement Scheme Reintroduced
The Chancellor announced last night that he is reintroducing the SSP reimbursement scheme for SMEs who have employees off sick with Covid. The full details of the scheme are yet to be announced, however the government updated has updated its guidance on gov.uk with the message: “This scheme will be reintroduced from mid-January 2022. Further guidance […]
