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Author Archives: Sue Ferguson

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Working from Home, Pay and Benefits – Your Questions Answered 

Posted on May 12, 2022 by Sue Ferguson

Working from Home

One benefit that came out of the pandemic was recognising that much office work can be done from home. Many people appreciate the extra time and flexibility that working from home adds to life, wanting a degree of continuation, with most employers willing to accommodate.

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Posted in Pay, Working from Home

Can You Fire Employees Over Zoom?

Posted on May 5, 2022 by Sue Ferguson

Recently in the US, the boss of a mortgage firm terminated the employment of 900 members of staff over a video call, with little consideration for their wellbeing.

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Posted in Dismissal, Employment Rights, Redundancy

Forthcoming Employment Law Changes in 2022

Posted on February 8, 2022 by Sue Ferguson

The SSP Rebate Scheme Re-opened

The Coronavirus SSP Rebate Scheme was re-opened on 21 December 2021. The scheme covers up to two weeks’ SSP per employee costs for COVID-related absences. You are eligible for the scheme if, as of 30 November 2021:

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Posted in Employment Law Changes, National Minimum Wage, Right to work in the UK, SSP

Right to Work, SSP Rebates and other Employment Law Updates

Posted on November 2, 2021 by Sue Ferguson

Since the 2020 coronavirus outbreak, a revised process for checking right to work needed to be adopted. This process remains in place today and will continue until 5 April 2022, unless the Government announces any further changes. If so, I will let you know as soon as possible.

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Posted in Employment Law, Right to work in the UK, SSP

Employers ‘Named and Shamed’ for Paying Below the Minimum Wage

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Sue Ferguson

The Government recently announced that 191 companies failed to pay £2.1 million to over 34,000 workers, owed for minimum wages. Those companies were all named and shamed under the Naming Scheme. This scheme was previously paused in 2018 to evaluate its effectiveness, resuming in February 2020.

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Posted in Pay, Wages

The High Cost of Workplace Conflict

Posted on July 8, 2021 by Sue Ferguson

Workplace conflict can cost UK employers around £28.5 billion every year. This astounding figure comes from the latest ACAS report, Estimating the Costs of Workplace Conflict, which I have greatly summarised here.

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Posted in ACAS, Conflict

Seven Strategies for Successful Hybrid Working

Posted on May 4, 2021 by Sue Ferguson

With the successful rollout of the COVID vaccine programme, lockdown is gradually being lifted. With many organisations returning to the workplace, how many will continue with homeworking?

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Posted in Flexible Working, Working from Home

Latest News on Statutory Rate Changes in April 2021

Posted on March 5, 2021 by Sue Ferguson

Many employers were concerned that the Government would not publish their April 2021 proposed statutory rates because of the immense focus on the pandemic. However, the rates were published in December to keep statutory rates in line with the consumer price index (CPI).

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Posted in Pay, Sick Pay

Government has Released Proposals for New Immigration Law from January 2021

Posted on January 20, 2021 by Sue Ferguson

From January 2021, the government is implementing a standard set of rules applying to all non-UK workers, regardless of their nationality. Freedom of movement for EU and EEA nationals will end, although Irish citizens will continue to be free to travel to the UK under the Common Travel Area.

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Posted in Brexit

Ready, steady, Zoom! Your virtual Christmas party

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Sue Ferguson

We all deserve some fun this Christmas. Being in lockdown doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a safe, socially distanced Christmas party. In fact, through researching the many options of how to hold an online Christmas party, it could be more fun than the real thing. Below are some great party ideas.

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Posted in cHRISTMAS

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