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.

So, let’s check out this week’s headlines…

Government ‘fire-rehire’ consultation closes

The government’s consultation on its draft fire-rehire statutory code of practice closes today (on Tuesday the 18th of April).

Ministers still need time to review responses but if it passes it will take stronger action against employers who use fire-rehire tactics.

Employers who don’t follow the new code could see a 25% uplift in the compensation they have to give if their employee’s claim is successful in court. Whilst it won’t prevent employers from firing and rehiring altogether, it will take stronger actions against employers who fail to negotiate with the affected employees.

Is dismissal and re-engagement an unlawful practice? Ask BrightHR Lightning.

Celebrating Eid— Eid Mubarak!

With Ramadan expected to end this Friday, employers should start thinking about how best to celebrate Eid with their teams.

Organising workplace festivities and offering treats can be a great way to bring staff together and boost morale. It’s also worth reviewing annual leave requests and allowing flexibility, so employees can celebrate with their families.

Need a quick and efficient way to track your staff’s holiday requests? Learn more about BrightHR’s award-winning staff planner.

Could this proposed bill cost employers too much money?

The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill would mean employers will have a stricter duty to prevent sexual harassment in their workplace.

If it passes, business owners will face third-party harassment liability. This applies to customers, clients, and the public.

But reports suggest ministers are planning to drop the bill because legal action against employers could be too costly.

Make sure you have an up-to-date sexual harassment policy in your workplace to keep your business compliant in the meantime.

Have a break, have a… McVitie’s?

McVitie's recently conducted research which found that 70% of employees take less than a 15-minute break every day apart from lunch. And more than 75% said their performance declined as a result.

The global biscuit company is calling on the government to introduce a statutory 15-minute tea break. They’re yet to suggest McVitie's biscuits should be the tea break snack of choice, however. We’ll keep you posted if Yorkshire Tea decides to jump on the bandwagon too…

If you’re worried about the number of breaks your team are taking (and you’re running low on McVitie’s), find out how using a staff time-tracking app can boost productivity.

And that’s a wrap. Tune in next week for more headlines and make sure you stay ahead of major employment law changes!