Grumbles or grievances – why you need to take employee complaints seriously

Receiving a grievance from an employee is rarely welcome – dealing with it can soak up resources, cause disquiet among other employees and in some cases escalate into a dispute which ends up before an employment tribunal. However, as Gillian Reid, employment lawyer with Ware & Kay in York & Wetherby explains, handling grievances properly is a useful way of nipping workplace problems in the bud, stopping relations between you and an employee souring and resulting in legal action.    The key to dealing with grievances is to adopt a fair process and to be aware of some of the challenging issues that may crop up.   Importance of treating grievances seriously Dealing with a grievance promptly and thoroughly can avoid bigger problems arising later on, for example if the employee alleges that a colleague is…

Dealing with flexible working requests: guide for employers

Homeworking and other forms of flexible working arrangements are increasingly common, as employees juggle caring responsibilities or try to avoid long and expensive commutes to work. Employees may be surprised to learn that there is no right to work flexibly, just a right to make a request. However, as Gillian Reid, employment law specialist at Ware & Kay in York and Wetherby explains, employers need to respond properly to any requests to work flexibly to avoid claims in an employment tribunal. What is flexible working? Working part-time, from home or only in term time are all examples of flexible working, along with job shares and exemption from night shifts. The legal process to request flexible working applies to working hours and the place of work. Who has the right to request flexible working? The scope of…

It is time to refresh HR policies and practices for 2021

2020 was a tumultuous year with employers having to respond rapidly to the challenges of the pandemic. Culturally the world has shifted too, with the Black Lives Matter movement bringing momentum to improving equality and diversity at work. The end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020 means an end to free movement and has implications for UK employment law. Gillian Reid, a Solicitor in the employment team with Ware & Kay suggests that ‘Now is a good time to review and refresh HR policies and practices after a fast-paced 2020 and to get ready for the challenges of the new year.’ She recommends focusing on the following areas: Working from home Is your working from home policy fit for purpose? Does it adequately deal with homeworking as the norm for staff, rather than…

Five reasons to use collaborative law in a family dispute

When a relationship breaks down, it can be one of the most distressing events many of us will have to endure.  There can be a lot to sort out; family finances, arrangements for children and who stays in the house.  Most people assume that the only way to end their marriage or formalise a separation involves a visit to court to let a judge make those decisions.