Asbestos – Are You Managing The Risk?
It is now over 20 years (and two changes in regulations) since law was introduced, requiring duty holders to survey, identify and manage asbestos within their premises. Asbestos has been used for thousands of years but was used in particularly high quantities in buildings materials, fire/heat protection and other products between 1950 and 1980. Around […]
Sexual Harassment: A Recent Case Example
An employer has had to pay compensation in excess of £50,000 to a former employee who was sexually harassed by her manager and some colleagues who thought their behaviour was normal “workplace banter”. Background Shortly after commencing employment with a well-known retail chain, the employee was subjected to unwanted advances and inappropriate comments by a […]
Paternity Leave Changes
The Government has published draft legislation in the form of the Paternity Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2024,which are due to come into force on 8th March 2024. The Regulations will apply where the Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC) is on or after 6thApril 2024. From that date: These changes should give more flexibility in terms of how the […]
Family Friendly Employment Law Changes On The Horizon
As we have advised previously, a number of changes to family friendly legislation were announced during 2023; and three key changes are destined to come into effect on 6thApril 2024. The Regulations do remain in draft form at the moment, so may be subject to change. These draft Regulations currently provide for the following: The […]
Legislation Impacting Holiday Pay & Other Miscellaneous Provisions
The Government, last week, published draft legislation to implement changes to holiday rights under the Working Time Regulations (“WTR”). The draft Employment Rights (Amendment, Revocation and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 (“Regulations”) still need to complete the final stage of the legislative process but significant changes are not envisaged. Providing there are no hiccups, the Regulations should […]
Home Working Update
Approximately, 4 years ago, back in 2019, the country was periodically put in ‘lockdown’ as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. Employers reacted hastily, putting arrangements in place with employees being required to work from home, where this was possible. When the lockdown ended, some employees gradually returned to the workplace. However, a lot of […]
HSE Ramp Up Inspections on Metal Working
The HSE has just announced that they are undertaking Metalworking inspections, starting in October 2023. From October through to March 2024, HSE will be inspecting manufacturing businesses that use metalworking fluids or coolants in machining processes. There HM Inspectors will focus on how employers are ensuring their workers are protected from exposure to metal working fluids or […]
Fire Door Safety Week
We’re recognising Fire Door Safety Week – 25th – 29th September 2023 – as an opportune time to highlight the critical role fire doors play in the preservation of life and building fire safety. Unfortunately, as Sentient Consultants visit and walk around premises undertaking Health and Safety Audits and Fire Risk Assessments, we are finding […]
The Evolving Virus & Its Impact
Since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic in 2019, the virus has continued to mutate and there is growing concern, amongst scientists, regarding the latest strain of the virus commonly known as ‘Eris’. Latest data from the UK Health Security Agency, shows around 11 people per 100k of the population tested positive for this […]
Civil Penalties Increasing for Employing Illegal Employees
All UK employers are required to prevent illegal working by conducting right to work checks to ensure that their employees have the right to work in the UK. If an employer is found to have employed an illegal employee and has not conducted valid right to work checks, they could face a civil penalty as […]
