5 minute read
SBT People Management & Recruitment
from SBT issue 448
SBT
PEOPLE MANAGEMENT & RECRUITMENT
WHAT DO SUSSEX EMPLOYERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WORKERS’ RIGHTS?
WITH SUSSEX BASED HR CONSULTANCY, ADASTRA
SBT PEOPLE MANAGEMENT & RECRUITMENT SPONSORED BY:
“Fire and rehire” practices under fire. What do Sussex employers need to know about workers’ rights?
• Workers’ rights are once again under the spotlight as Acas reports on “fire and rehire” practices. • Government will not currently legislate against the so called “bully-boy” fire and rehire tactics but is setting up a new workers’ rights watchdog. • The as yet unnamed watchdog will combine three existing regulatory bodies to crack down on workers’ rights abuses.
Fire and rehire refers to a practice where employers having been unable to get agreement through consultation, terminate the contracts of employees with a view to immediately offering them a new contract on less favourable or different terms. With suggestions that the practice has become more prevalent during the pandemic, the government commissioned Acas to prepare a report. The HR Dept brings local employers up to speed on this and related issues. Acas’s brief was to complete an independent fact-finding mission on fire and rehire, making no recommendations. They found that while it was not a new practice, it did appear anecdotally to have become more common in recent years. Triggers include the desire to avoid or minimise redundancies, and to change terms and conditions. A recent high-profile example is that of Clarks shoes who are asking more than 100 warehouse staff to accept a new contract on reduced terms. The staff are considering strike action. The business minister has recognised the practice in general as “bully-boy tactics” but indicated the government is not in a rush to legislate specifically against it. They have, however, asked Acas to prepare clear guidelines about when fire and rehire may be used. With many businesses forced to take difficult decisions during the pandemic, it is always best to seek professional advice when doing something with such far-reaching consequences for both the business and your staff. Employers should be aware that the government is preparing to clamp down on enforcement in other areas of workers’ rights, though. Of course, by far the majority of businesses do want to treat workers respectfully and in compliance with the law, but there are always a few who will cross the line – whether inadvertently or deliberately. Going for these, the government plans to merge three bodies - the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate and HM Revenue & Customs’ national minimum wage enforcement team - into a single watchdog guarding employment rights. The new regulatory body’s scope will include ensuring workers receive holiday and sick pay they are entitled to without resorting to an employment tribunal; as well as protecting agency workers, enforcing minimum wage compliance and fighting against modern slavery. While it is not formed yet, one would imagine the new agency will be far
HR
more coordinated across the broad workers’ rights remit as well as more streamlined. If you are unsure if your employment practices meet minimum standards, now would be a good time to get them reviewed. The HR Dept is now the UK’s largest network of HR professionals providing outsourced HR support. Our clients vary, from tiny start-ups to established brands, across all industries. We pride ourselves on delivering costeffective employment law advice and HR solutions that leave you free to concentrate on growing your business.
Serena & Sue
Your local HR Dept Offices:
Eastbourne, Brighton and Hove
Serena May – serena.may@hrdept.co.uk 01323 403500
Chichester, Arun, Worthing, Adur and Horsham
Sue Beeby – susan.beeby@hrdept.co.uk 01243 214404
Sussex-based specialist Human Resources Consultancy, Adastra HR, announces it has become an accredited ‘Insights Partner’ with its service offering “Insights Discovery’.
The service, which is based on the psychology of Carl Jung, uses psychometric tools and a four-colour model to help employers and employees alike by building essential soft skills. These skills include; collaboration, communication and leveraging collective strength while also identifying their strengths and weaknesses, communication, and individual working styles. What is particularly unique is that this exercise isn’t just on an individual team member level but also on how all employees fit together at a business-wide level - and how they can collaborate better as a team! The service provides excellent insight into where a business’s core skills are and highlights potential skills gaps within a company to map out each team member’s strengths and weaknesses, skills, personality and preferences. The service’s main aim is to provide businesses with the tools and opportunities to improve their team dynamics (whether in the office or working from home, or a combination of both) to improve employees’ performance, relationships, and the overall working environment. Of course, in today’s climate, with the normal way of working disrupted globally, people are adjusting to working in hybrid teams (some even as new starters), making it more critical than ever to stay connected. The service has already been successfully rolled out with several existing clients within the Adastra network across the South East via some fun and creative training sessions. All the sessions have been well received, with clients (including ClearVision, pictured above) reporting that there has already been noticeably stronger employee performance and team re-connection across the company.
Alison Daymond, Managing Director of Adastra, said: “Insights Discovery is a HR great way of helping employees reflect upon themselves and to identify their own personal communication style - as well as recognising the strengths and values they can bring to the team. This builds an understanding of each other’s communication preferences and how they can work best in the office and at home. If employees’ understanding of each other improves, by learning their communication preferences, strengths, and style of work, the team’s level of collaboration, communication, and productivity will increase. This will only result in a stronger higher performing team and business as a whole.” For more information on this service and how Adastra HR can help your business and employees, visit their website at
https://adastrahr.co.uk/insights-
discovery/ or email advice@adastrahr. co.uk or call 0330 113 0925.
