National Living Wage / National Minimum Wage and the Statutory Rates that take effect in April 2025

The National Living Wage Rate from 1stApril 2024 Rate from 1st April 2025 Approx increase Aged 21 and above £11.44 £12.21 6.7% The National Minimum Wage Rates Rate from 1stApril 2024 Rate from 1st April 2025 Approx. Increase 18-20 Year Old Rate £8.60 £10.00 16.3% 16-17 Year Old Rate £6.40 £7.55 18% Apprentice Rate £6.40 £7.55 […]
Forthcoming Family Friendly Legislation

The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 will come into force on 6th April 2025, the Government has announced. The legislation is designed to support employees who have parental or a personal relationship (defined in the regulations) with a baby needing neonatal care. It goes without saying, that we genuinely hope that none of your employees […]
Farm Partnership Fined After a Man is Killed by Exploding Tyre

A farm partnership has recently been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and fined £80,000 following an accident at a dairy farm that resulted in the death of a farmhand. Information A 23-year-old farmhand suffered fatal head injuries as he helped to inflate a tractor tyre at the farm in May 2021. At […]
Snow Days Off: Paid or Unpaid?

Extreme winter weather conditions can cause problems resulting in difficulties for people getting to and from work. In addition, if schools close, parents who cannot make alternative arrangements need to remain at home to look after their children. So if an employee cannot attend work due to the wintry weather conditions, what is the situation? […]
Our 2025 Webinar Programme

Our industry leading webinars are an opportunity for you to access expert insights from our HR and Health & Safety consultants at a low cost & from the comfort of your office. Each month, our team undertake interactive sessions, giving you topical insight into the most important elements of HR and Health & Safety to […]
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Earlier this year we circulated an Information Update advising of the implementation of new legislation amending the Equality Act 2010 in respect of sexual harassment in the workplace. The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act requires employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual […]
HR Update: Sexual Harassment Example Case

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 […]
Civil Unrest: The HR Implications

As we are all aware the last couple of weeks has seen civil unrests on the streets in England and Northern Ireland fueled to a great extent by misinformation posted on social media and social media also being used to promote further unrest. We do not believe it would be helpful to get into debate […]
Rescinded Resignation: The Rules

Do You Have to Accept an Employee’s Request to Rescind Their Resignation? Generally speaking, an employee’s resignation does not need to be accepted for it to take effect. If an employee wishes to leave their employment, an employer cannot prevent that happening: you cannot force an employee to remain working for you if they do […]
Metalworking Lathe Safety – Using Emery Cloth

A company has recently been sentenced after an employee sustained serious injuries whilst using a centre lathe. He had both wrists fractured as well as a middle finger whilst working at the firm’s premises in Scotland. The employee was using a piece of emery cloth to polish a metal bar on a lathe when the […]