New Statutory Rates Rises
The Government has set out its proposed new statutory rates for statutory sick pay and family leave pay to apply from 6th April 2026. The average gross weekly earnings required to qualify for the various forms of family leave pay is proposed to increase from £125.00 or more per week, to £129.00 or more per week from 6th April […]
Party Poppers or Party Poopers?
Christmas will soon be upon us: decorations, secret Santa’s and office parties! A celebration and fun for some but a potential nightmare for the unwary. Here is a reminder of a few pointers that may help you through the festive period and avoid some HR and Health and Safety pitfalls. Christmas Decorations – A Few […]
National Living Wage & National Minimum Wage Rises
Below is a summary of the changes to the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage increases announced in November that take effect on 1st April 2026. Access more support For more advice surrounding this, or any further HR support, learn more about our HR services or talk to our team.
The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025
The aim of the above new Act is to simplify data protection matters for organisations, whilst continuing to protect individuals and their rights. The DUAA makes changes to subject access request (SAR) obligations; and creates a new Information Commission (previously the ICO) powers and complaint-handling duties. Further guidance and codes of conduct are expected throughout […]
Employment Rights Bill – Update
The Employment Rights Bill is progressing towards the end of its passage through Parliament (the Lords Report stage starts on 14th July); and the Government has published its ‘roadmap’ for implementing its provisions. We summarise below some of the key issues on the horizon. Consultations The Government are going to consult on the following: Summer 2025 Autumn 2025 Consultation […]
Hand Arm Vibrations (HAVS)
Do your employees/workers use hand tools such as routers, hand held saws, drills, staplers, air operated screwdrivers etc. or materials held against a vibrating object which vibrates through that object e.g. routing in the woodwork room? If yes: Have you put measures in place to protect employees from the risks of hand arm vibration (HAV’s)? […]
Employment Rights Bill – New Legislation
Following the publication of the new Employment Rights Bill last year, we sent out an Information update in November 2024 detailing the headline reforms proposed by the Bill. As stressed at the time ‘this is not law yet! It is still going through the law-making machinery and is still subject to change. Fast forward 6 months […]
East Yorkshire Firm Fined More Than £533,000 After Fatal Fall of Shift Worker
An East Yorkshire company has been prosecuted and fined more than half a million pounds after a fatal fall of night shift worker. The Facts The 51-year-old was an employee at a manufacturer of paper sacks near York, when the incident happened on 11th February 2023. The employee had been operating one of the company’s production […]
The Importance of Safe Working at Height
Falls from heightremain the leading cause of workplace fatalities in the UK. On average, 50 workers lose their lives each year due to falls (2024 statistics show an increase), with many more suffering life-changing injuries such as paralysis, brain trauma, and multiple fractures. Every task at height, no matter how routine, carries risks. One mistake, […]
How to manage legionella
Legionella has hit the headlines recently, Bibby Stockholm Barge and more recently, Amey Community Ltd after failure to manage legionella in a water system at a prison, resulting in the death of 71-year-old who was serving a prison sentence, both of these outbreaks provide a reminder on the importance of legionnaire management. What is Legionella? […]