First published on Thursday, May 09, 2024
Last updated on Thursday, May 09, 2024
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Welcome to HR Heartbeat, where we give you a rundown of the week's top employment law stories. Stay on the pulse of current trends impacting your business, plus get up-to-the-minute commentaries on all things HR and legal.
Mental Health Awareness Week
Mental Health Awareness Week is next week in the UK (Monday 13th May to Sunday 19th May).
And, this year’s theme is moving more for our mental health. You and your employees live busy lives so fitting exercise into your daily work routine can be challenging.
But it’s a challenge worth facing, especially when 56% of UK adults say exercising regularly helps them manage stress and burnout. As an employer, you should consider what steps you need to take to improve your employees’ mental health.
Encouraging employees to get outdoors during lunch breaks, creating after-work exercise classes, or running exercise sessions at break times is a great place to start.
For instant advice, ask a question on our AI HR and health & safety tool, Bright Brainbox: How can I help my employees with their mental health?
Or for personalised wellbeing support that covers both mental and physical wellbeing, check out Bright Wellbeing & Counselling. Discover the ultimate way to look after your staff’s mental health this Mental Health Awareness Week and beyond!
Is saying “back in your day” workplace harassment?
In a recent employment tribunal, a claimant in their sixties brought a claim for harassment against a younger colleague based on what they deemed an ageist comment.
The older employee claimed their younger colleague had said “Well back in your day it was probably free” when discussing elective surgery.
The tribunal decided the comment was “barbed and unwelcome” and, as an expression used to highlight an age gap, could amount to unwanted conduct. But the claim was dismissed as there was no evidence it was said in the first place.
Although this particular claim didn’t go anywhere, this case is an important example for employers of the types of expressions that could constitute harassment.
For more instant advice on this topic, ask Bright BrAInbox: What words could be considered age discrimination?
What does the new Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Bill mean for employers?
A bill on paternity leave and bereavement has just had its third reading in the House of Commons. The bill is designed to make it easier for employees to take time off should the unthinkable happen, where a mother or a prospective adoptive parent dies.
During the third reading, it was announced the intention of the Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Bill is for a bereaved father or partner to have 52 weeks of leave available during the first year of their child’s life, from the day on which the mother or primary adopter has died.
For more support on this topic, ask a question on our instant AI HR and health & safety tool, Bright Brainbox: Do all employees get parental bereavement leave?
And that’s a wrap. Tune in next week for more headlines and make sure you stay ahead of major employment law changes!