Latest Q & A
Health and Safety in the work place
I am part of a sales team and use my computer all day. I had glasses before I went to the company, but feel my eyesight has deteriorated since. Does my employer have to pay for an eye test and can I charge them for any treatment?
Sick leave in the workplace
One of my employees keeps taking time off for 'stress'. I am sceptical about this but am worried that she will take legal action if I challenge her. How can I handle this situation?
Unacceptable standard of work
I want to discipline an employee whose work is falling well below standard. What is the best way of doing this?
Discrimination in the workplace
I want to employ some bar staff to work in my bar. I want them to be good looking to draw in the ‘punters’. Can I do this legally? Are there any laws about discriminating against ‘less attractive’ people?
Outsourcing - without the legal responsibility
I am self-employed; operating a small unregistered cleaning service. Due to an increase in demand for my services I have been considering my options with regard to meeting the additional demand. I am reluctant at this to employ staff, with all the responsibilities this entails, and wondered whether I could contract out the additional work to another cleaning service, avoiding employer responsibilities and liabilities.
National minimum wage
Our staff work for 3 hours at £5.45 per hour in the morning, and then go on home-based call-out, staying within a 20 minimum radius of their home, for the next 21 hrs. For this they receive £15.00. They then start their next three hour shift. Is this legal?
Am I entitled to sick pay?
If I am self-employed, can I get any sick pay when I have an operation?
Laws of discrimination
We are an ironing service looking to employ staff to carry out ironing in their own homes on a casual basis. Can we advertise for non-smoking/clean environment when recruiting?
Employee rights
We are a small hairdressers business (owner, plus 1 full-time and 1 part-time worker). The part-timer works 16 hours (2 days), one of which is on her own. She now states that due to personal issues, she cannot be on her own. Two days takings have already been lost, which she has been paid for! Am I within my rights to insist she works on her own one day per week, or tell her she goes back to eight hours only? Can I then employ someone else for the remaining eight hours?
Working Time Regualtions
Do employees have any rights as to when they can take annual leave or is it purely as the employer dictates?
Long term sick leave
Do staff accrue holidays whilst on long term sick?
Rules for time off work paid or unpaid
An employee's brother has unfortunately died what are the rules for time off paid or unpaid?
When is age discimination being made illegal?
When is age discimination being made illegal?
Employment Rights Act 1996
Can I provide electronic payslips to my employees instead of paper ones?
Legal entitlement to taking breaks
What is the legal entitlement to breaks relating to hours worked?
