What's New

We recently reported on moves to help employers to recognise the signs of domestic abuse and to make it easier for them to offer help (see How to support employees suffering domestic abuse).

Only a few days ago, there were several newspaper reports indicating that the Government was giving serious consideration to the possibility of easing regulatory restrictions in areas such as employment (see Will the Government take the chance to reduce employment rules?).

Some pupils will begin a phased return to school in Scotland on 22 February, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said, with a full-time return for pupils in primaries years 1–3.

From 2 February, in order to combat the spread of a new variant of the coronavirus, which looks to have originated in South Africa, the Government started implementing surge testing in the areas where the variant has been detected.

New research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has revealed that nearly half of employees do not have flexible working in their current role.

The Government has published the names of organisations who made claims to the Job Retention Scheme for the month of December onwards.

Five years on from the implementation of new court guidelines for sentencing those who put workers at risk of accidents, injuries and ill health, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has praised their positive impact.

A number of leading health and safety bodies have written to Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng about workers’ rights including health and safety in the workplace.

The youngest children in Wales could begin returning to school after the February half term, if rates of coronavirus continue to fall, First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced.

From 27 January, employers can apply for a £1000 traineeship incentive grant under a new scheme set up to support young people in gaining the skills and experience they need to get a job, an apprenticeship or pursue further study.