News

New research shows that almost half a million carers for elderly, ill or disabled relatives have quit in the last two years due to the pressures involved. Carers UK, the main membership charity in the United Kingdom for carers, says that the number of people now balancing work and caring has risen from three million …
Read the full Story “Pressures on carers puts care of elderly in the spotlight again”

During the last financial year the number of fines for Pension Auto-Enrolment errors shot up to 35,810 from 14,650 the previous year. The reason..? The expansion after 2017 of the enrolment scheme to employers of less than 50 people….and that may well include you. Pensions Act 2008 has been extended since its inception over the …
Read the full Story “Massive Rise In Fines For Pension Auto-Enrolment Errors….Make Sure You Don’t Get On The List!”

A report by London Fire Brigade on fire safety in London residential care homes has highlighted a series of worrying issues which resulted in 57% of 177 homes being given formal notification to address the issues. In April 2017 a Cheshunt care home in Hertfordshire was the scene of a major fire. Firefighters rescued 33 …
Read the full Story “London Fire Brigade Finds Fire Assessment Worries In Over Half Of City’s Care Homes”

It’s only fair isn’t it, a member of your domestic staff has been off sick for a while, so can you reduce their holiday entitlement? The answer is No. It is not only unfair it is illegal and could leave you open to a tribunal claim. Staff do not need to be at work to …
Read the full Story “Your Employee Has Been Off Sick – So You Can Deduct A Part Of Their Holiday Entitlement…Think Again!”

Information on past old and minor offences has, until now, been given to employers and potential employers in Standard and Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. But the Supreme Court has ruled in favour of three people who said their lives had been held back by the disclosure of such offences. Now, the government …
Read the full Story “Rules On Disclosure Of Some Convictions Set To Change”

When a pregnant woman or new parents return to work as a member of domestic staff they can receive a widely differing reception. “It’s good to see you back” to “Hmm the girl doing maternity cover did a much better job.” Whatever the reasons, thousands of women lose their jobs due to pregnancy or maternity …
Read the full Story “Greater Protection For Pregnant Women”

Many housekeepers, nannies and other domestic staff drive when employers ask, sometimes for a school run, or shopping. But driving in winter requires special knowledge and as an employer you have a duty of care to ensure staff are equipped for this. Failure to ensure that you have provided the information or pointed them towards …
Read the full Story “Winter Driving – Keep Domestic Staff And Yourself Safe”

The wearing of religious symbols by staff at work can sometimes be a vexing issue for employers, and also a potentially difficult area to approach. As the employee you really need to know what the “rules” are before initiating any discussion. There are a number of basic questions that you, as an employer, may have. …
Read the full Story “What Are The Rights And Wrongs Of Staff Wearing Religious Symbols At Work?”

If your domestic staff ask for a salary increase, would yes or no be your immediate response? Actually it is better not to go down either route. Perhaps “OK, let’s talk about this” is a better response. While your second thought may be “How much”, again probably a better response may be “Why”. The request …
Read the full Story “Yes or No? That is the question!”

Employers today have to be aware of risk of discrimination against employees in a range of areas and now another may be added. An Employment tribunal is to decide whether veganism is a “philosophical belief” akin to a religion, in a landmark legal action.It stems from the dismissal of an employee who has claimed that …
Read the full Story “Vegan Judgement”