First published on Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Last updated on Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Have you heard the latest news?
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.
Theft in aisle seven!
An employee who was caught stealing ‘bags for life’ from Sainsbury’s has been dismissed for gross misconduct this week.
In a recent case (Doffou v Sainsbury’s), a night shift worker was putting their employee discount to good use and purchasing some groceries. Sounds perfectly innocent right? Unfortunately, when using the self-checkout, the employee didn’t pay for multiple reusable bags for life and ultimately ended up sacked from Sainsbury’s for life…
The employee in question filed for unfair dismissal, but the claim failed as the tribunal found that a fair procedure had indeed been carried out.
An important takeaway for employers is that even when a fair reason for dismissal is given, a tribunal will still look at whether a fair procedure has been followed.
Therefore, it’s vital your procedures and investigations are handled correctly. For instant advice on this topic ask BrightLightning: Is stealing a fair reason to dismiss?
Or for more in-depth advice read our article on: What is unfair dismissal?
NEW code of practice on fire and rehire
The government has confirmed it intends to bring the new statutory Code of Practice on Dismissal and Re-engagement into force in July 2024.
The code will provide practical steps employers should follow when undertaking an exercise to change employee terms and conditions.
The steps focus on negotiation and compromise where possible from the employer to encourage an employee to agree to the new terms rather than using the threat of dismissal as the single bargaining tool.
Once implemented, failure to follow the Code will result in an uplift to an employee's unfair dismissal compensation of up to 25%.
For instant advice on this topic ask BrightLightning,Is dismissal and re-engagement an unlawful practice?
World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2024
This Sunday (28th April 2024) is World Day for Safety and Health at Work. This year’s theme is ensuring health & safety in a changing climate.
Climate change is a global issue that affects every aspect of our lives. What might surprise you, is just how much impact it has on workers and businesses…
Today, 1.2 billion jobs are at risk because of environmental decline. The ILO predicts that in less than seven years, up to 3.8% of total working hours could be lost to climate-induced high temperatures.
We get it, it doesn’t make for light reading. But understanding the threats posed by climate change to health & safety at work is necessary to manage and reduce the risks to you and your team.
For more in-depth health & safety support and advice on this topic read our latest blog.
And that’s a wrap. Tune in next week for more headlines and make sure you stay ahead of major employment law changes!
