News

This month, May 2019, the government is set to publish its first consultation on the extension of shared parental leave to grandparents . At the present time the right to shared parental leave is limited to the mother’s partner, the child’s father, or the mother’s partner if there is an enduring family relationship. The government  …
Read the full Story “Will Shared Parental Leave Be Extended To Grandparents…..?”

There are some important changes to compensation awards that employment tribunals can apply recently. The following two came into effect from April 6th this year (2019) The bands of compensation that employment tribunals can award for injury to feelings in discrimination cases (known as Vento bands) have changed. Part of the compensation that can be …
Read the full Story “Two Major Compensation Changes You Should Be Aware Of”

If you reach the stage where you, as an employer of domestic staff, may consider an employee is too old for the job they are doing, you need to tread carefully. Listening to the comments of colleagues of “she/he is getting a bit frail nowadays” and making a dismissal decision has recently landed an employer …
Read the full Story “Too Old For The Job…. Better Think Again”

We have written before on the impact of removing Employment Tribunal Fees. Now former domestic staff employees who feel they have been treated badly and unfairly dismissed can take their cases to tribunal without cost and if you, as an employer lose, it could cost you even more than before. The maximum compensatory award for …
Read the full Story “Unfair Dismissals Will Cost You Even More”

April 6th  – Or 7th Which is The Date For Changes April 6th generally brings some changes which affect employers of all including domestic staff and this year is no exception. However, the new rates itemised below will take effect from next Sunday, April 7th as it is the first Sunday in April. Statutory Maternity …
Read the full Story “April 6th – Or 7th Which Is The Date For Changes”

 Rules on Non-Disclosure Agreements May Be About To Change Non-Disclosure Agreements are not uncommon in the domestic employment world and, in many cases, their use is totally acceptable in preventing confidential information being leaked. However, the now international ME TOO movement has highlighted how in some cases where employees have been made to sign such …
Read the full Story “Rules On Non-Disclosure Agreements May Be About To Change”

Care of elderly in the spotlight again. 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 …
Read the full Story “Care of elderly in the spotlight again”

Massive rise in fines for pension auto-enrolment errors 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 …
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!”