Carrie Tutte

So what is this all about? The new Worker Protection Act (Amendment of the Quality Act 2010), which comes into effect in October 2024, creates a duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their employees in the workplace. Under the Equality Act, an employer could defend a harassment claim if … Read more

Employee engagement is the extent to which employees feel valued and involved in their everyday work.   It is a good idea to measure employee engagement as it is an important indicator of the health of your business and a good way to spot areas for improvement. Levels of employee engagement Highly engaged employees – … Read more

Taking time off for both bereavement and other life hardships can be a particularly sensitive area of people management. No one person deals with challenges in the same way, which is why it can be tricky for organisations to create a singular policy to address all situations. Bereavement Leave This type of leave typically refers … Read more

According to Government data released in the last few days, utilisation of apprenticeships in the UK is increasing. Many organisations are seeing the tangible benefits of introducing apprentices into the workplace, including enhanced productivity and improvements to service delivery.  However, it is a common misconception that by employing an apprentice, organisations are simply paying for someone … Read more

As we start another new year, it is time to consider reviewing and updating your employment policies and procedures. This annual check-up is not just a bureaucratic exercise; it’s a strategic move to ensure your workplace is not only compliant but thriving. Here’s why the start of the year is the opportune time for this … Read more

The festive season can present many HR challenges, from Secret Santa mishaps to festive hangover-related absences and clashing holiday requests! Let’s see if I can help…… In this blog post, we will look at the following: 1. The Perils of the Christmas Office Party If you are planning an in-person party, some wise precautions businesses … Read more

If the answer is no, read on……… All employers in the UK have a responsibility to prevent illegal working. You do this by conducting simple right to work checks before you employ someone, to make sure the individual is not disqualified from carrying out the work in question by reason of their immigration status. Why … Read more

Yesterday the Government announced that it has accepted the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations on minimum wage rates to apply from 1 April 2024. This is the largest ever increase to the minimum wage in cash terms. The National Living Wage will apply to all workers aged 21 and over for the first time (previously applying only to … Read more

Bullying and harassment is never a good thing, but at work…….. A new piece of legislation ‘The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023’ has received Royal Assent, and will come into force in October 2024. This is an important piece of legislation when it comes to sex harassment litigation. In short, from next year … Read more