The New UK Points-Based Immigration System
EU free movement ended on 31 December 2020, meaning nationals of EEA countries looking to come to the UK to work must now apply for approval from the Home Office. In most cases, this will mean making an application for a points-based work visa, requiring the individual to attain the required number of points. EU […]
Shared Parental Leave & Pay Guide
Employees may be entitled to Shared Parental Leave (SPL), as well as Shared Parental Pay (ShPP), if either they or their partner have had a baby or adopted a child. What is Shared Parental Leave? SPL enables eligible mothers, fathers, partners and adopters to choose how to share time off work after their child is […]
Dismissing an Apprentice (Employer’s Guide)
There could be a number of reasons why you may be considering bringing an apprentice’s employment to an end. Before taking action, it helps to understand your rights and responsibilities, and those of the apprentice, to avoid potential disputes over the dismissal decision or process. The following guide provides important practical advice for employers looking […]
What is the Frontier Worker Permit?
What is the frontier worker permit and how do you apply? Frontier workers are individuals who work in one country while their primary residence is in another. EU freedom of movement has enabled frontier workers to come and go between the UK and EU member states without being subject to immigration control. Under new rules […]
How to Get a Working Holiday Visa for the UK
A working holiday visa allows people from overseas between the ages of 18 and 30 to come to the UK to work and travel for a period of two years. Following changes in UK immigration law on 1st January 2021, the T5 Youth Mobility Scheme visa, formerly called a Tier 5 visa, enables individuals who […]
Treated Unfairly At Work: What Are Your Rights?
What should you do if you are being treated unfairly at work? In most cases, employees will be expected to try to resolve issues informally with their employer first. But what does this mean, and what are your rights and legal options if you want to make a complaint about unfair treatment in the workplace? […]
Job Support Scheme (Employers’ Guide)
The Job Support Scheme (JJS) has been postponed until the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) closes, at the earliest. The CJRS is due to close on 31 March 2021. Further guidance on the new scheme was issued on 22 October, which amended and enhanced a number of the initial features. In a pragmatic change, the […]
Face Covering Workplace Rules
On 24th September 2020, rules that were previously seen to be advisory regarding face coverings at work became enshrined in law. It is now compulsory to wear face coverings at work for certain roles and indoor places, such as shops or cinemas. The change was brought in by the government following scientific evidence that Covid-19 […]
How Long Does A DBS Last?
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is a criminal record check that an employer can request as part of their recruitment process, in this way ensuring that they are only recruiting suitable people into their organisation and for the job role in question. This is especially important when the person will be working with […]
Employment Law Reasonable Travelling Distance Rules
If you are relocating to new premises, or asking an employee to move to another office or branch, you will need to understand how you can legally request a move. This includes exactly how far you can expect an employee to travel to their new place of work. However, the employment law rules relating to […]
Student Visa (Studying in the UK)
The Student Visa is the primary immigration route for non-UK residents looking to undertake a course of studies at either a British college or university. It has replaced the Tier 4 visa under the UK’s new immigration system. As with the previous Tier 4 visa, the new Student Visa route is for international students aged […]
Manager Accused of Bullying at Work?
What should an employer do if a manager is being accused of bullying at work? What do we mean by bullying at work? Employees are protected by law from bullying. Yet bullying in the workplace is most commonly cited as coming from those in a position of seniority such as managers. There is no legal […]
Reasonable Adjustments for Mental Health
Employers have a legal duty of care towards their employees. This requires them to do all they reasonably can to support the health, safety and wellbeing of their workforce in the workplace. This duty relates not only to physical aspects but also to the mental health and wellbeing of employees. Employees suffering from a qualifying […]
Managing Redundancy During Maternity Leave
Employers should approach any redundancy process with caution. This demands giving full consideration to the legal implications of making employees redundant, while minimising the impact on morale and the performance of your workforce. Redundancies can, however, become further complicated in circumstances where the law affords the worker additional protections, such as if the employee is […]
Completing Form Set F (ILR for a Child)
SET F is the application form used for a person under the age of 18 or a dependant over the age of 18 who was last granted leave to remain when they were still a child, who wishes to settle in the UK. If you are granted settlement, also known as indefinite leave to remain […]
Form FLR IR: Extending Leave in the UK
It’s important to apply to extend your leave before it expires, to avoid overstaying and becoming unlawfully present in the UK. Form FLR IR is used to apply to extend your stay in the UK where you fall within certain visa categories. The following categories would use Form FLR IR in order to extend their […]
Form FLR FP: Extend Your Stay in the UK
Form FLR FP is the form you have to complete if you want to live with a family member in the UK for more than six months, or you wish to extend your stay in the UK on the basis of family life or private life. Usually you will be extending or switching your existing […]
Phased Retirement (Guide for Employers)
In an age where people are living longer and healthier lives, and wanting to stay in work beyond a pensionable age, employers should be looking for ways to facilitate a fuller working life for their employees, which could include phased retirement. Phased retirement refers to ways in which an employer can provide older workers with […]
Apply for EU Settled Status
Under the EU settled status scheme, EEA citizens currently in the UK are required to register with the Home Office to confirm their continued right to live, work and remain in the UK after 30 June 2021. UK settled status will allow you to live and work in the UK indefinitely. You will also be […]
Employing An Apprentice (Employer FAQs)
Employers choose to hire apprentices because they can train these individuals in the specific skills needed by their organisation, resulting in a better qualified and motivated workforce. The Government is also trying to ensure that apprenticeships are an attractive option for employers by incentivising them financially to take on more apprentices. However, employers have to […]