Questions and Answers

Should we hold a Christmas party?

How lenient should I be with misbehaviour at Christmas?

I have an employee who is 70 years old, and I feel that it is time for them to go. Can I discuss retirement with them? If I raise the question of retirement, will I leave myself open to a claim of age discrimination?

We have an ageing workforce. Can I introduce a mandatory retirement age and introduce some younger blood into the organisation?

I am aware that fire safety legislation requires the responsible person to maintain fire detection and alarm systems in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. What does this mean in practice?

The child of one of my employees has died after a brief serious illness. How should we respond?

I am devising a new bereavement policy for my company. Have you a checklist of the essential points that I should include in the policy?

What is the legal position over bereavement leave?

What is a “philosophical belief” and how are such claims decided?

Is veganism a protected philosophical belief? I have an employee who is very vociferous in their promotion of the vegan ethic and I have heard reports that this may be causing issues in the workplace.