An advert stating ‘”if you’ve had to use sick days because you’ve actually been sick, then you’re seriously missing out” has attracted strong criticism from business groups who claim that the advert encourages a culture of ‘throwing a sickie’.

Costing tax payers several billion pounds per year, sickness absence is not something taken lightly by business owners who often have to foot the bill.  The financial cost of absence from work has been targeted by the Government with the resulting introduction of the Fit Note.  With the increasing focus on ‘efficiency’ in Government spending, absence from work is fast becoming a priority.

Nine out of ten employers have no plans in place to help manage staff absence during the forthcoming World Cup, according to a poll of more than 1,000 employers by the CIPD.

Almost all (90 per cent) of organisations have not developed a policy to manage staff absence during the World Cup. Just 5 per cent have developed a policy while a further 5 per cent are currently developing one.

The Co-operative Group has been critisised by a judge for their appalling attitude to fire safety.

Following its guilty admission to six breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the huge consumer-owned business received a fine of £210,000 and was ordered to pay over £28,000 in costs.

The Equality Bill received Royal Assent on 8th April 2010, meaning that most provisions will take effect in October 2010. 

Our partners, Empire HR, keep our clients up to date with what the Bill will mean in terms of employment law.  Of particular interest to many clients, are the effects of the Bill on the use of pre employment medical questionnaires. 

The number of businesses having to pay large fines for employing those who do not have permission to work in the UK has risen sharply in the past year.  The figures released from the UK Border Agency show that £22.1 million was paid to the agency in 2009.

This is a clear indicator that there has been a rise in the number of businesses having to pay the fine of £10,000 per illegal worker since the introduction of the scheme in 2008.