Anne Morris

Misconduct at work relates to behaviour deemed by an employer to be unacceptable in the workplace environment. Misconduct can have the effect of damaging a business’ reputation as a fair employer or a trustworthy company to deal with. It can cause damage to the property and belongings of the business and can lead to complaints and legal action on the part of employees who bring a grievance or professional organisations such as the Health and Safety Executive. Given the potential damage that can result from misconduct at work, employers may be able to take disciplinary action against an employee suspected…

The Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) is a document given to non-UK nationals and their dependents that is usually applied for as part of a UK visa or immigration application. It can be used as a form of identification and is proof of the holder’s right to stay, work or study in the UK. As a foreign national in the UK, the BRP will provide you with both a reliable form of identification and evidence of your immigration status. The BRP also confirms your right to claim for any public services or benefits that you may be eligible for. The BRP is a…

Poaching staff and hiring talent from a competing company can help bring commercial and tactical advantage to your business. But if it is your employees that are at risk of being ‘poached’, this can have a devastating effect on your business, not least where a particular individual or team of employees are highly valued within your organisation. It is therefore important for businesses to understand their rights, both when recruiting employees, or when you suspect a rival employer is poaching staff from your organisation. What is ‘poaching’? Poaching refers to a situation where a company hires one or more employees…

The redundancy process for less than 20 employees is different than if you’re making 20 or more employees redundant within any 90-day period because for 20 or more employees you must follow ‘collective consultation’ rules. Redundancy occurs when an employee’s job no longer exists. There are many reasons behind it, including an immediate need to reduce staff in order to keep the business from closing, or if the job role is no longer required. It’s vital that you follow the correct redundancy process to protect the interests of your business and ensure your employees are treated lawfully. Regardless of the…

Sponsor licences are initially granted to employers for a period of four years. If you wish to continue employing non-EEA workers beyond this four-year point, you will need to apply to the Home Office to renew your sponsor licence ahead of its expiry. Sponsor licences do not automatically renew. An expired sponsor licence will mean that you no longer have the required permission to sponsor workers on pints-based visas, such as the Tier 2 visa. Your sponsored employees will no longer be lawfully employed by your organisation, rendering them in breach of their visa conditions and potentially subject to curtailment…