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A recent survey by Acas highlights that hybrid working continues to be popular amongst employees, showing that 60% of employers have seen an increase in hybrid working for staff compared to before the Covid-19 pandemic. The conciliation and arbitration body commissioned YouGov to ask British businesses about changes to working practices that they have seen compared to before the pandemic. Not only did this highlight the rise in hybrid working, but the poll also found that more than half of employers (52%) have seen an increase in staff working from home full-time. HR Team co-director, Breda Cullen, said: “Many businesses [...]

A survey carried out by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has revealed that 10% of companies plan on reducing pay or benefits for home workers. The survey found that 4% of businesses have already reduced pay or benefits for people who continue to work from home, and a further 13% are on the verge of doing so. This follows recent reports that a London-based law firm employees have been given the option to work from home full-time in return for a 20% reduction in pay.  The firm that recruited lawyers who lived outside of London as additional [...]

National Workplace Wellbeing Day will take place on April 29, 2022. Building a sustainable, long-term approach to health and wellbeing has never been so important, as the world of work continues to evolve following the Covid-19 crisis. The pandemic highlighted the importance of mental health for employers and employees alike. However, even pre-pandemic research identified that employee mental health problems were costing UK businesses between £33 billion and £42 billion a year, and a huge £100 billion for the economy overall. What Is Employee Wellbeing? Many employers only focus on employees’ health benefits when it comes to employee wellbeing. However, [...]

In light of autism acceptance week from March 28 until April 3, HR Team will be discussing neurodiversity in the workplace. What Is Neurodiversity? Neurodiverse individuals are those with developmental disabilities such as autism, ADHD and social anxiety disorders. However, there’s a growing understanding that these individuals aren’t disabled per se, but rather differently-abled. Neurodiversity refers to the different ways we think. Most people are neurotypical. In other words, they process information in a similar way and as society expects. With neurodivergent people, the brain functions, learns and processes information differently. Most people experience neurodivergence along a ‘spectrum’ of characteristics, and [...]

Probationary periods are included as a standard practice in most employment contracts. This is frequently provided for in employment contracts to allow for a trial period in which an employer can evaluate an employee’s suitability and performance. However, probationary periods are not without pitfalls, and dismissal can carry many legal risks during this trial period. Employment contracts that do not contain a probation disclaimer could cause problems for the employer if recruitment is not successful. The Legality Of Probationary Periods Firstly, it is worth noting that although you are not legally obliged to include probationary periods for all new recruits, [...]