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When your housekeeper or other domestic staff employee has an illness, it’s often easy to see and you can raise the issue if and when needed. But when the problem is a mental health condition, how can you tell? Well, in truth, unless you see a deterioration of work, or obvious signs of stress, you …
Read the full Story “Follow the lead of the big boys”

All national minimum wage rates are set to rise again, with the Living Wage – the statutory national minimum wage for those aged 25 and over- will go up the highest by almost 5% from 1 April 2019. It will boost the figure from £7.83 to £8.21. The increase of 4.9% has been recommended by the …
Read the full Story “National Minimum Wage Rates To Rise Again.”

Recently in Singapore an employer used CCTV to monitor his domestic staff and when he saw his child abused handed the evidence to the police. He then posted it on Facebook. His actions have once again stirred up the “should we or shouldn’t we” monitor staff discussion. So, what are the legal constraints in the …
Read the full Story “Can You be “Big Brother” And Monitor Your Domestic Staff On CCTV?”

  In many situations, women’s Menopause is still a taboo subject, but in the workplace, including that of your domestic staff, it has to be recognised and taken into account. In 2017 the government published a report “Menopause: effects on women s’ economic participation.” Prior to that in 2012 Ms. M. who had been dismissed …
Read the full Story “One of the last women’s taboo subjects has to be addressed”

In 2020, the government will introduce a new leave entitlement, bereavement leave, being a statutory entitlement, it will be paid leave. There is currently no requirement for you as an employer to grant leave in these harrowing times , although common decency comes into play an time is allowed off. But because this is not …
Read the full Story “Bereavement leave to be made law”

Despite repeated publicity promotions and warnings to employers – including of course those of domestic and household staff – of not paying the legal minimum wage, a record £15.6 million worth of underpayment has been uncovered by the government in just the last year. As a result 200,000 workers missed out on being paid at …
Read the full Story “Not Paying Legal Rate Is Costly”

You would like to think that when your domestic/Household staff are working for you, that even on their days off,  they are not working for anyone else. But according to a report by Henley Business School, 40% of employees have a job on the side to make ends meet. Does it matter? Well it depends …
Read the full Story “Do Your Domestic/household Staff Have A Job On The Side?”

With some claims by employees and former employees of discrimination at Employment Tribunals, one can easily see how an employer crossed the line. However, with some you might think; “Well, that took me by surprise.” A recent case in Belgium might come under that umbrella. A shop has just been ordered to pay a man …
Read the full Story “Real Employment Tribunal Case Worth Knowing About…..”

Continued exposure of deficiencies in care homes in England will yet again focus the minds of families on alternative solutions. The organisation which checks and rates care homes the Care Quality Commission (CQC) uses four ratings – outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate. Almost 3,000 of the country’s 14,975 care homes in England are currently …
Read the full Story “One In Five Care Homes In England Are Criticised.”

Some time ago, we reported on the case of an employee who won a landmark battle when the European Court of Human Rights ruled that she had been discriminated against for being made to wear a uniform that prevented her from visibly wearing her crucifix. We pointed out the dangers to employers of domestic staff …
Read the full Story “Be Aware Of Risks To Stopping Religious Symbols being Visibly Worn”