Questions and Answers

What is a written statement and am I required to supply one to my employees?

I am planning to start a new business. Could you advise on what to consider when setting up the legal structure?

Our business is desk-based and therefore low-risk. With restrictions lifting, will we still need to provide hand sanitiser in the workplace?

Who is entitled to paid annual leave?

We intend to carry out a series of health and safety audits to ensure we are managing risks effectively. The Managing Director has requested that this is undertaken in-house. What is good practice in relation to this?

I need staff to come into work over the May bank holiday. I do not recognise a trade union so there is no collective agreement to this effect. Can I force the staff to work on any bank holiday?

My staff do not have the entitlement to leave on bank holidays written into their contracts.  This year I wish the business to close for a week over a bank holiday period.  How should I go about this?

Do bank holidays count towards overall annual holiday entitlement?

One of the essential workers on my night shift is a follower of the Islamic faith, and has come to me to talk about Ramadan. With so many of the workforce off sick, we cannot allow her to take annual leave over this period as she usually does. What provisions should we put in place to allow her to consume food and drink and take part in prayers through the night?

A number of my employees are practising Muslims. They have complained that they consider themselves to be forced to take time off over Christmas (because we have a one week shut down) and yet they have to use up their holiday entitlement if they want to take time off over Ramadan, which lasts for a month. They believe this amounts to religious discrimination. What can we do?