Latest blog: The Low Pay Commission (LPC), the independent body which advises the Government on the levels of the National Minimum Wage (NMW), including the National Living Wage (NLW), has launched a call for evidence to inform its advice to the Government on the minimum wage in 2025 and beyond. With full details available on the GOV.UK website, it is seeking input to shape the recommendations which it will make to the Government this autumn, on minimum wage rates to apply from April next year. The deadline for submitting evidence is 7 June 2024. The Department for Business and Trade ..read more

Latest blog: The TUC has warned that Britain is failing to keep up with the regulation of AI in the workplace, leaving workers vulnerable to exploitation and discrimination. It has proposed a legal blueprint for regulating AI, including a legal duty for employers to consult trade unions on the use of high-risk and intrusive forms of the technology. Other countries such as the US, China, and Canada are already implementing new laws for the use of AI. TUC assistant general secretary Kate Bell said: “UK employment law is simply failing to keep pace with the rapid speed of technological ..read more

Latest blog:   People are a vital and volatile asset for any business. Effective HR saves time and offers business owners flexibility. These ‘must do’ tips will help keep your team working efficiently and harmoniously. Know Your Team It’s crucial that you know who is fully engaged with your business and its direction – and who isn’t. Recent Gallup information showed that only 32% of full and part-time employees working for organisation are engaged, whilst 18% are actively disengaged.  Active disengagement increased by two percentage points from 2021 and four points form 202.&n ..read more

Latest blog: Case Law. Summary: The presence of some degree of control and the requirement for personal service does not automatically mean the relationship is an employment one, nor is it always indicative of worker or employee status. Note for employers: This case helps to add clarity to the legal position of non-traditional employment relationships that have become increasingly common. Due to the nature of the work to be undertaken, in creative industries such as publishing there will be some more unorthodox arrangements that do not fit the usual mould of a non-employment relationship ..read more

Latest blog: Workplace bullying disguised as banter has affected 32% of people in the UK. This is a worrying fact arising from research by law firm Irwin Mitchell, 2023. Words that one person finds funny can cause offence to someone else. Workplace banter is a sensitive area that’s involved with an increasing number of employment tribunal cases. In 2022, 66 claims were made, including comments which could be considered bullying or harassment. Employers must take this seriously. In 2023, an employment tribunal heard from Miss Hunter who was employed by Lidl from 5 February 2019 to 23 Augus ..read more

Latest blog – Case Law: Summary: Just because an employee has a protected characteristic, this doesn’t mean that everything that happens to them in the workplace is because of that characteristic. Facts: The claimant was employed as an ophthalmic surgeon by the respondent. As part of the respondent’s mandatory infection prevention and control policy, all staff entering or working within clinical areas and/or providing direct patient care are required to be bare below the elbows. The policy also states that it recognises the specific needs of staff on cultural, religious or disability g ..read more

Latest blog: Deutsche Bank to provide menopause pods in London office | Consensus HR | Herts, Beds, UK Deutsche Bank is set to introduce “reset and recovery pods” in its new London office to support menopausal women. The private booths will feature reclinable chairs and temperature controls to help alleviate symptoms such as hot flushes and migraines. The pods are part of Deutsche Bank’s new wellness suite, which will also include physiotherapy facilities, GP clinics, a mindfulness space, and a multifaith prayer room. The move comes after London headquartered law firm Shoosmiths announced ..read more

Did you know?  April is Stress Awareness Month: This April, Britain’s bosses are being invited to follow five simple steps to prevent and reduce stress in their workplace. The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Working Minds campaign has called on employers to support workers mental health during Stress Awareness Month. Liz Goodwill, head of the work-related stress and mental health policy team at HSE, said: “We are inviting business owners, employers and managers to join others across Britain to make a difference during Stress Awareness Month in five steps.” Over the course of th ..read more

Did you know?  The Right to request Flexible Working, starts tomorrow. New legislation comes into force tomorrow (April 6th) that is designed to encourage more discussion about the possibility of flexible working between employers and their respective employees. Under the terms of the new Flexible Working bill, staff can request flexible arrangements from their very first day on the job – and research conducted among 1,000 UK desk workers by AI-powered platform for work, Slack, indicates that more than half (55%) of the UK workforce will request flexible working hours when the n ..read more

The UK’s largest long-term savings and retirement business, Phoenix Group, has joined a growing list of companies offering to test workers for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) amid concerns that NHS delays are leaving many without support. The entertainment giant Disney is now also offering all employees ADHD and autism assessments under its private healthcare service. The Telegraph notes that magic circle law firms Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, and Allen & Overy have all introduced workplace schemes which help lawyers with ADHD diagnos ..read more