Questions and Answers

An inspection of our office has revealed that employees are storing a large number of heavy items on top of the storage cabinets. They are using office chairs to reach up and do this. Are our legal obligations met if we provide equipment such as a kick-stool or is there more we should do to ensure that employees are not injured?

One of my employees has failed to return to work after annual leave. This is not the first unexplained absence. How should I respond?

Does our organisation need to appoint a Data Protection Officer?

An employee booked a holiday some months ago. Just before he went on holiday he fell ill. How should I deal with this?

How should I respond to a subject access request from a current employee?

What procedures do I now have to follow to obtain a medical report on one of my employees?

I have an employee who has been three years with the company. During the first two years of employment with us her attendance record was good. This year, however, her record has become increasingly poor; she has been absent for over 25% of her working time. Nearly all her absences were covered by a medical certificate. She appears to suffer from a range of minor nervous disorders, bronchitis and viral infections. How should I deal with her?

How can I improve employee attendance in the workplace?

One of my employees has failed to turn up for work for the last two Fridays, without providing any satisfactory explanation. He has simply stated that he felt unwell, so was unable to attend work. I have since heard from a reliable source that he was actually attending protest marches. How should I deal with this?

What amounts to a “fundamental breach of contract”?