HR & Employment Law update

NEWS

Employees increasingly using social media and AI to boost skillset.

Research by KPMG has revealed that 62% of employees are turning to social media and artificial intelligence (AI) to learn new skills. This trend highlights the growing importance of digital learning and development, with 20% of users indicating they use social media platforms for quick, accessible, and diverse learning experiences that help them gain new skills interactively. A survey by People Management found that 63% of respondents agreed that social media and AI are effective ways to learn workplace skills.

The increased use of AI for learning can be especially beneficial for small businesses as a way to engage with employees. However, it's important for organisations to research the quality of AI learning tools available on the market before implementing them for their staff.

Survey finds salary satisfaction a key employee motivator

A talent acquisition software company conducted a survey to uncover the primary motivators that drive employee engagement and retention. The data drew insights from over 1000 employees and revealed that salary, job satisfaction, collaborative team environment, a positive culture and feeling appreciated were top key drivers for employee satisfaction in the workplace.

Employee motivation is crucial for businesses aiming to maintain a productive workforce. Low motivation can lead to reduced productivity and morale and even increased absenteeism. Although small businesses may struggle to offer big salaries, pay was only just top of the list, and focusing on job satisfaction and a positive culture are much more

LEGAL UPDATES

Estate agent awarded ￡31k for unfair dismissal

An estate agent who was awaiting a life-altering surgery and was bedridden due to endometriosis, has been awarded over ￡31k by an employment tribunal for unfair dismissal and failure to make reasonable adjustments.

The claimant was employed by an estate agency from July 2019 until November 2021 and was initially allowed to work from home due to her condition, but the workplace adjustment was abruptly withdrawn by her employer, eventually leading to her dismissal.

During the tribunal proceedings, the judge found that the company had fabricated disciplinary documents in relation to the estate agent for the hearing and deemed the respondent as “a wholly unreliable witness”. It was concluded that the dismissal was due to the company’s unwillingness to accommodate the claimant’s request to work from home. The company had failed to follow any procedure for dismissal and had acted outside the band of reasonable responses.?

It may seem simple for businesses to take the ‘easy way out’ when considering cases of workplace adjustments for employees but this case is a classic example of what can happen when there is a failure to meaningfully consider reasonable adjustments.

Unfairly dismissed for requesting a contract

A tribunal has ruled that a Belarusian gymnastics coach was unfairly dismissed by her employer after requesting a written contract and payslip. The claimant discovered her start date was incorrect and she had been underpaid. When she raised these issues, she was dismissed.

The tribunal highlighted the need for businesses to provide clear, accurate employment documentation. In this case one of the issues was confusion over start date and lack of clarity about pay. The tribunal ruled that her dismissal was due to her legitimate requests for correct documentation, not misconduct as claimed by her employer.

It's essential to ensure all employment terms are clearly communicated and accurately documented, and promptly address any employee concerns regarding their contracts or pay to avoid legal disputes. It’s also worth remembering that an employee having short service doesn’t give you a ‘get out of jail free card’. If an employee, even of very short service, claims they were dismissed for exercising a statutory right, a tribunal is likely to lean in their favour – part of the problem here was a lack of documentary evidence for the misconduct the respondent claimed was relevant.

OTHER STUFF

According to a recent study by Protime UK, over half (54%) of UK employees work between four and 30 hours of overtime each month. This amounts to approximately 19 million days of unpaid overtime per month.

A survey by CFA Institute has found that 32% of UK graduates are not confident about their future career prospects and increasingly turning to stable careers like finance.?

Employees have confessed that hybrid working has led to bad habits and ‘untidy desks’ according to a new study by marketing agency Repeat Digital.

MY BIT

What a busy and varied month May has been although I don’t think it was helped by the two bank holidays, a Take That concert and a trip to Dublin for a hockey tour! I really do love the variety I get and this month I’ve been providing neurodiversity training, working with new clients, updating documents in line with the recent legal changes and unfortunately dealing with some tricky employee issues.? One tip I often give to my clients is “if it’s not written down, it didn’t happen” and the importance of this is shown beautifully in the tribunal example above involving a Belarusian gymnastics coach.

If you have any queries do get in touch

Sue