
Employment Law Updates


Does employment law apply to volunteers?
Many organisations host volunteers to undertake a range of responsibilities and to provide work experience. The types of organisations that can host volunteers includes charities, not for profits, public sector organisations and private sector enterprises. The activities volunteers engage in can also vary greatly depending on the industry. Nevertheless, volunteers and interns are all treated […]

What is unfair dismissal and how does it differ from fair dismissal?
Generally, an employee who has completed the applicable qualifying period of service has the right not to be unfairly dismissed. For these purposes, the employee must have been dismissed in one of three ways: termination by the employer, expiry of a limited-term contract or constructive dismissal (section 95(1), ERA 1996. The dismissal of a qualifying […]

Is it a legal requirement to have a contract of employment?

The benefits of outsourcing HR
Human resources – it sounds quite tyrannical. In fact, the HR department is a valuable asset for long-term business health. This is because employees are the lifeblood of any business. What’s more, research has found that the working environment is the most valued factor for employee happiness. As such, its important employers ensure they have […]

How to deal with workplace bullying effectively
The workplace is where many of us spend a large portion of our lives. Unfortunately, the reality is that bullying doesn’t disappear once we leave education. It’s not something employers can quantify and address in the same way as other business areas. However, bullying most certainly is something that has to be dealt with effectively. […]

Do most employers settle before tribunal?

Government to triple fines for employing illegal workers
On 7 August 2023, the UK government announced the tripling of fines for the employment of illegal workers. The last time this civil penalty was increased was in 2014, with a first-time breach costing £15,000 and repeat breaches costing £20,000. The increase, set to be implemented in early 2024, will see fines rise to £45,000 […]