Feature Articles

A new law has been passed in Australia which will give employees the power to apply for an order to stop unreasonable out-of-hours contact from their employer, which could lead to a substantial fine if breached. In this article, Stacie Cheadle, Croner-i employment law researcher and writer, looks at the right to disconnect in the UK, and whether current legal protections are sufficient to safeguard UK workers.

After a seven-year absence, the idea of charging fees to access employment tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal has once again risen its head. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has launched a consultation into the re-introduction of fees, but at more “modest levels” than what we last saw in 2017. In this feature, Stacie Cheadle, Croner-i employment law researcher and writer, looks at the history behind the charging of tribunal fees and what the Government’s new proposals mean for employers and their workforce.

More British people meet their partner at work than through dating apps or sites, friends, or hobbies, according to YouGov research from December 2023. This means in many workplaces there are likely to be individuals who have been, are currently, or will be in the future part of a workplace romance. In this feature, Stacie Cheadle, Croner-i employment law researcher and writer, looks at workplace romances and what practically employers can do to ensure there are no unwanted effects in the workplace.

Four in ten organisations returned to being full-time in the office last year, but at the same time three in ten employers saw an increase in staff working from home. These contrasting findings suggest a struggle between what employers and employees want. Where there is a struggle, there is the potential for conflict, and tribunal claims. In this feature, Croner-i employment law researcher and writer, Stacie Cheadle, looks in more detail at the right to request flexible working and what happens when an employer says no.

World Cancer Day is held on 4 February every year, and it serves as a reminder of the need to support employees living with cancer and other serious illnesses, including those with a terminal diagnosis. This support can be offered in various ways. Guidance recently issued by the CIPD deals with employing people with terminal illnesses, and previous guidance on supporting employees with long-term health conditions from the CIPD also offers many insights useful for employers. In this feature, we look at how employers can support employees living with a serious or terminal illness.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) recently revealed that it will not be releasing a new Code of Practice on sexual harassment at work, as had previously been promised. Instead, the existing Code will be updated as well as the EHRC technical guidance on this subject. That news, along with the fact that Valentine’s Day will soon be upon us, has put focus once again on sexual harassment at work. In this feature, Stacie Cheadle, Croner-i employment law researcher and writer, looks at the current position of harassment law, future changes and what employers should be doing to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.

With the cost of living continuing to be a problem, anything that helps working parents balance their home and work commitments will be a welcome relief. With plenty of changes set to come into effect from 6 April 2024, employers should make it their priority to get prepared for these. In this feature, Stacie Cheadle, Croner-i employment law researcher and writer, looks at what’s to come in April for working parents.

The dramatisation of the Post Office Horizon scandal has been a hot topic of late, with its exposure of serious flaws in the investigation process that was carried out into allegations of financial discrepancies against a huge number of sub-postmasters and mistresses, who were prosecuted under criminal law and even jailed. Whilst it wasn’t an HR investigation (they were self-employed), there are still lessons for employers from it. In this feature, Stacie Cheadle, Croner-i employment law researcher and writer, looks at disciplinary investigations and the steps employers can take to ensure they are fair and thorough.

Authenticity, individuality and acceptance. These are all key words when it comes to the idea of an employee bringing their “whole self” to work. But what does this mean, and is it something employers should be encouraging? In this feature, we look at this concept, why it can be a good idea for the workplace and how you can encourage it in your own organisation.

29 February does not come around very often; only every four years in fact. And this year, 2024, is one of those years. But what difference does it make for employers, and will it mean workers need to be paid an extra day’s pay? In this feature, we look at leap years and their implications in the workplace.