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Employment Law Advice And Consultancy – What Is The Best Option For You?
Employment law regulates the relationship between employers and employees. It governs what employers can expect from employees, what employers can ask employees to do, and employees rights at work. Employment law is a minefield with continuous changes in government guidance. It can be challenging to keep on top of the ever-changing legislation. Particularly given the uncertainty of Brexit and Covid-19, employers must act with great caution to remain legally compliant. There are multiple options available; an employer could hire an in-house HR consultant or team, acquire an employment law advisor or solicitor, or pay for outsourced HR and employment law [...]
Willy-nilly rejection of remote working requests will see flood of tribunal cases
Leading HR advisor says employers are anticipating a flood of employment law cases resulting from 'willy-nilly' rejection of remote working requests by employers. Martina McAuley, Director at HR Team, said employers who are not adequately prepared to deal with remote working requests - even post Covid-19 – run the risk of serious financial penalties. Unfair Dismissal Following The Refusal Of A Remote Working Request Ms McAuley made the comments after the Workplace Relations Commission ordered an employer to compensate a worker for unfair dismissal following the refusal of a request for remote working. Ms McAuley said: “Case law now exists [...]
Remote working law will boost staff retention and motivation says HR expert
A leading HR specialist says laws giving employees the right to request permanent remote working will improve staff retention and motivation. HR Team Director, Breda Cullen made the comments after Tánaiste Leo Varadkar published Ireland’s first National Remote Work Strategy which aims to make remote working a permanent option after the Covid-19 pandemic. A new legally admissible code of practice on the right to disconnect from work will also be introduced - covering phone calls, emails and switch-off time. For expert HR advice on the latest employment law updates, contact our team. However, Ms Cullen said it is important that [...]
Helping Employees Overcome The 5 Challenges of Lockdown
Many businesses are now having to think on their feet to ensure survival during lockdown and beyond, and HR Team’s experts are on-hand with commercially-focused advice on how to make the right decisions. Director, Breda Cullen, says HR Team’s consultants are making a number of recommendations on how to implement the various options available to employers faced with very difficult decisions at this time. The key employment challenges in lockdown 1. Adhering to the latest government guidelines and restrictions in Ireland 2. Making temporary lay-offs or introducing short-time working 3. Considering redundancies 4. Homeworking Employers have a number of options [...]
Return to work protocols for Irish businesses
As we approach the fourth and final phase of the lockdown many more businesses will be reopening. But how much responsibility do employers hold? For businesses that have already reopened, the new ‘normal’ is very different. New return to work protocols and practices such as regular cleaning, physical distancing and, if necessary, the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be implemented. What are the mandatory and recommended workplace measures? Face masks in the workplace The use and supply of face masks in the workplace is not a mandatory measure. However, it’s important to assess your own workplace with measures [...]
Why outsourcing HR is better for your business
Ongoing HR support for employers removes the headache caused by staffing-related issues and provides peace of mind regarding employment law compliance. Outsourcing HR is usually more cost effective than employing full-time, salaried employees. The national average in the UK for a HR manager salary is £43,000 and €51,459 per year in Ireland. Would you rather pay this or avail of HR Team’s fully-outsourced HR management service. There is no obligation to sign up to lengthy contracts – clients can choose a fixed monthly fee or a pay as you go option, allowing you to benefit from our knowledge and experience [...]
The six step process to providing constructive criticism
Managing employee performance can be the most challenging aspect of your job as a business owner or manager.A large part of successful performance management revolves around clear communication and the provision of regular feedback to employees - in fact these are vital to the continued efficiency and performance of your team(s) and your overall organisation.HR Team director, Martina McAuley, advises the best approach when addressing an employee’s underperformance: “The best approach is referred to as a ‘positive sandwich’. Begin with positive feedback, feed in with addressing the negative issue at hand and finish with a positive statement. This is to prevent [...]
Managing an underperforming employee in the workplace
Although the world has changed, the importance of performance management hasn’t. Your overall strategy and team goals need to be set and communicated, and performance progress still needs to be measured. HR Team Director, Martina McAuley, says: “Good performance management is built on clearly setting expectations, ensuring employee accountability and providing regular feedback to staff. Communication is key – daily team briefings, regular management meetings and one to one meetings with employees should be implemented. “Establishing an employee’s skill or will; the establishment of basic standards, expectations and targets (BET); adopting appropriate management style and clear communication are the four [...]
10 Methods To Effectively Manage and Motivate a Remote Workforce
Keeping remote workers engaged through a period of permanent or temporary home working can be challenging but there are simple steps that can be taken by both employers and employees to overcome the challenges. In this article, HR Team co-director, Martina McAuley, provides her expert advice on optimising performance while working from home. Reasons identified by HR Team for lack of motivation or underperformance: Lack of clarity on employer expectations. Poor job design – non-flexible when moving to remote working. Employees not receiving effective training or induction into the workplace. Unsuitable reporting structure or lack of clarity surrounding reporting structure. [...]
Can you send an employee home for having a hangover?
As St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year, your employees may be hungover or drunk at work. The St. Patrick’s Day parades are cancelled, but staff may still be worse for wear the following morning. What are your rights when dealing with this matter? Problems with workplace hangovers Lower productivity. Reduced workplace morale. Customer service is of a lower standard. Co-ordination, attention span and reaction speed is slowed. Employee suspension or termination. How do you manage an employee that is over the limit at work? HR Team Director, Breda Cullen, says: “It is recommended to have a witness [...]