Monthly HR blog Newsletter – May 2024 | Consensus HR, Herts, Beds
Welcome
In this months blogs recap from a selection of our April 2024, blogs we discuss:
- New legislation on flexible working becomes law tomorrow – 6th April 2024 |Consensus HR | Herts, Beds
- When Workplace Banter Becomes Bullying | Consensus HR in Herts, Beds
- Top Five HR Tips | Consensus HR in Herts, Beds
- Why Your Business Needs Employment Contracts. | Consensus HR in Herts, Beds
- Low Pay Commission starts work on recommendation for 2025 minimum wage | Consensus HR in Herts, Beds
- Stress Awareness Month | Consensus HR in Herts, Beds
- April is Stress Awareness Month: tackle stress in the workplace with five steps in five weeks | Consensus HR | Herts, Beds, UK
New legislation on flexible working becomes law tomorrow – 6th April 2024 |Consensus HR | Herts, Beds
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 new laws come into effect.
When Workplace Banter Becomes Bullying | Consensus HR in Herts, Beds
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 August 2021.
Top Five HR Tips | Consensus HR in Herts, Beds
- 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. Can your business afford to lose these extra days? (Gallup 25-01-23)
Top tip: Listen to and involve all team members so that everyone feels a key part of your business, promoting commitment and flexibility.
To read the other four, click below:
Why Your Business Needs Employment Contracts. | Consensus HR in Herts, Beds
Can your business spare £25,000?
This is the amount it could cost for not providing an Employment Contract to an employee. If the individual involved decides to go to a High Court instead of an employment tribunal, the cost could reach £50,000.
Are you at risk of a hefty penalty?
The Consensus HR team often provides HR Health Checks and employment law advice regarding our clients’ HR provision. One of the most common questions raised by employers is: ‘Why do we need Employee Contracts?’
Low Pay Commission starts work on recommendation for 2025 minimum wage | Consensus HR in Herts, Beds
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.
Stress Awareness Month | Consensus HR in Herts, Beds
April is stress awareness month and HSE is urging employers to prevent and reduce stress in their workplace.
April is Stress Awareness Month: tackle stress in the workplace with five steps in five weeks | Consensus HR | Herts, Beds, UK
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.”
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