Michael Oberwarth

Flexible working is a key issue for both employers and employees and now the Government is promoting its benefits. In November 2011, the transport Minister Norman Baker launched the ‘Anywhere Working’ consortium, with its purpose being to enable employers to understand the benefits of flexible working. The consortium aims to help organisations achieve greater productivity, reduce… Learn more

The London Olympics will begin on 27 July and it is thought that up to 7000 volunteers will be involved to help make it a successful event. Many of these volunteers will be employees, so, in order to minimise the impact their absence may have on workplace productivity, Acas has advised employers to start talking… Learn more

The Charities Act 2011 received Royal Assent on 14 December 2011 and will come into force on 13 March 2012. This new Act repeals and consolidates all charity legislation: the Recreational Charities Act 1958, the Charities Act 1993 and many of the provisions of the Charities Act 2006. However, it does not change the law.… Learn more

The Government has confirmed that the standard rate of statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay will increase from £128.73 to £135.45 per week from 1 April 2012. Statutory sick pay will also increase, rising from £81.60 to £85.85 per week from 6 April 2012. For details of further changes to employment law that will come into effect… Learn more

Acas has warned employers that they should ensure they are fully prepared for workplace issues that crop up over Christmas and the winter months in general, such as employee absence due to snow, annual leave requests, illness and stress. Employers should ensure that they have the correct workplace policies and procedures in place and that they know their employees’… Learn more

The Localism Bill, which the Government has called “the biggest transfer of power in a generation, releasing councils and communities from the grip of central government”, received Royal Assent late yesterday afternoon (15 November.) The Act includes measures to reform the planning system, to ensure decisions about housing are taken at a local level, and… Learn more

In a speech made yesterday (10 November), the Prime Minister confirmed that the Government intends to consult on proposals to allow employers to have “protected conversations” with their employees. The change was initially mentioned by the Deputy Prime Minister late last month, when he unveiled a raft of new measures designed to reduce bureaucracy and… Learn more

In a speech at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester this week, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that: 1. The unfair dismissal qualifying period will rise from one year to two years; and 2. Fees will be introduced for employment tribunal claims. Since the speech, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skill (BIS) has… Learn more

Acas has published a new guide to help employers manage the use of the internet and social media in the workplace. According to Acas, almost six out of 10 workers now use social media at work, either on their computers or their mobile phones. However, whilst some employers encourage their employees to use social media… Learn more

Following a preliminary hearing earlier this month, storage product manufacturer Lion Steel Equipment and three of its directors will stand trial for corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter respectively, after an employee of the company died when he fell through a roof at one of its factories. Further details are here. The company has also been… Learn more