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EMPLOYMENT
Employment resources (updated 14/1/12)
"Weekly pay" for redundancy pay and unfair dismissal awards for 2011-12 (updated 8/1/12)
In the pipeline for 2012 and beyond (updated 29/1/12)
VSLH3 Chapter 26: Rights, duties and the contract of employment
Internships and work placements (updated 13/1/12)
Rights of agency temps (updated 13/1/12)
Increase in qualifying period for unfair dismissal (added 29/1/12)
VSLH3 Chapter 27: Model contract of employment
Being clear about overtime pay (added 24/1/12)
VSLH3 Chapter 29: Taking on new employees
Right to work in the UK (updated 30/1/11)
TUPE cases and guidance (added 14/6/09)
VSLH3 Chapter 30: Pay and pensions
Minimum wage (updated 23/9/11)
Minimum wage, internships and work experience (added 13/1/12)
Minimum wage and on-call time (added 13/1/12)
Earnings from permitted work (updated 2/1/12)
Introduction of real time PAYE information (added 18/1/12)
Tax allowances and national insurance thresholds for 2012-13 (updated 18/1/12)
National insurance holiday (updated 18/1/12)
Abolition of cycle to work day breakfasts and other tax reliefs (added 18/1/12)
Tax-free mileage reimbursement (added 18/1/12)
Tax treatment of employer-supported childcare and vouchers (updated 18/1/12)
State pensions (updated 24/1/12)
Auto-enrolment and the national employment savings trust (NEST) (updated 29/1/12)
Contracting out of additional state pension (added 24/1/12)
Pension liability on incorporation, merger or winding up (updated 2/4/10)
VSLH3 Chapter 31: Working time, time off and leave
On-call time as working time (updated 2/4/10)
Holiday pay and long-term sickness (updated 15/2/10)
Statutory sick pay (updated 8/1/12)
Fit notes (updated 30/1/11)
Illness during annual leave (added 15/2/10)
Children and young people as employees (added 30/1/11)
Right to request time off for training (updated 22/9/11)
Workers memorial day (added 15/2/10)
Anti-slavery day (updated 2/1/12)
VSLH3 Chapter 32: Rights of parents and carers
Statutory maternity, paternity and adoption leave and pay (updated 8/1/12)
Additional paternity leave and pay (updated 8/1/12)
Flexible working to care for children (updated 2/1/12)
VSLH3 Chapter 33: Disciplinary matters, grievances and whistleblowing
Code of practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures (updated 15/6/09)
Tribunals can pass whistleblowing disclosures to regulators (added 2/4/10)
VSLH3 Chapter 34: Termination of employment
Effective date of termination for summary dismissal by post (added 7/11/10)
Increase in qualifying period for unfair dismissal (added 29/1/12)
VSLH3 Chapter 35: Redundancy
Statutory redundancy pay (updated 8/1/12)
VSLH3 Chapter 37: Employment claims and settlement
Employment disputes and settlement (updated 29/1/12)
VSLH3 Chapter 41: Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
Criminal record checks (updated 20/6/10)
Vetting and barring scheme (updated 20/6/10)
Regulated activity under the vetting and barring scheme (updated 20/6/10)
Registration of health and adult social care providers (updated 20/6/10)
VOLUNTEERING
VSLH3 Chapter 39: Volunteers
"Fit and proper person" certificate for volunteers? (updated 13/6/11)
Volunteer rights call to action (updated 22/3/11)
Issues in reimbursing volunteer expenses (added 14/11/10)
Volunteers & mileage reimbursement (added 18/1/12)
Volunteering confirmed not to be an occupation (updated 31/3/11)
Paid "volunteer" held not to be working under a contract (added 29/5/11)
Volunteers without sponsorship certificate not allowed into UK (added 22/3/11)
Children and young people as volunteers (added 30/1/11)
EQUALITY
VSLH3 Chapter 28: Equal opportunities in employment
VSLH3 Chapter 42: Equal opportunities: Goods, services and facilities
These provisions have been moved to a separate page, EQUALITY, but can still be accessed from this contents list.
Equality Act (updated 28/5/11)
Equalities Act charities exemption (updated 11/1/12)
Follow-up on homophobic banter case (added 28/5/11)
Pregnancy gossip can be discrimination and harassment (added 28/5/11)
Belief in animal rights and in public service broadcasting as protected beliefs (updated 13/6/11)
Time off to attend Friday prayers (added 5/6/11)
TUC/CIPD guidance on managing age in the workplace (added 28/5/11)
Abolition of default retirement age (updated 2/1/12)
Comparator for disability discrimination (updated 10/10/10)
Guidance on equal pay audits (added 6/9/10)
Compromise agreements and discrimination claims (added 28/5/11)
Catholic adoption agency still seeking to change its objects (updated 1/11/12)
HEALTH AND SAFETY
VSLH3 Chapter 40: Health and safety
"Common sense, common safety" h&s proposals (added 25/5/11)
Abolition of Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (added 25/5/11)
HSE infoline to disappear on 30 September (updated 22/9/11)
Risk, liability and the social value of activities (added 25/5/11)
First corporate manslaughter conviction (updated 25/5/11)
H&S policies and risk assessments (updated 25/5/11)
Managing stress at work (added 25/5/11)
Harassment at work (added 25/5/11)
Children and young people as employees and volunteers (added 30/1/11)
Basic first aid leaflet (added 8/1/12)
RIDDOR changes (updated 22/9/11)
Register of occupational safety and health consultants (added 25/5/11)
You can also find legal updates for voluntary organisations on the websites of Bates Wells and Braithwaite Solicitors at www.bwbllp.com and the Charity Team at Russell-Cooke Solicitors at www.russell-cooke.co.uk, and information about changes in tax and finance law on the Sayer Vincent website at www.sayervincent.co.uk. EMPLOYMENT
Employment resources (updated 14/1/12)
"Weekly pay" for redundancy pay and unfair dismissal awards for 2011-12 (updated 8/1/12)
In the pipeline for 2012 and beyond (updated 29/1/12)
VSLH3 Chapter 26: Rights, duties and the contract of employment
Internships and work placements (updated 13/1/12)
Rights of agency temps (updated 13/1/12)
Increase in qualifying period for unfair dismissal (added 29/1/12)
VSLH3 Chapter 27: Model contract of employment
Being clear about overtime pay (added 24/1/12)
VSLH3 Chapter 29: Taking on new employees
Right to work in the UK (updated 30/1/11)
TUPE cases and guidance (added 14/6/09)
VSLH3 Chapter 30: Pay and pensions
Minimum wage (updated 23/9/11)
Minimum wage, internships and work experience (added 13/1/12)
Minimum wage and on-call time (added 13/1/12)
Earnings from permitted work (updated 2/1/12)
Introduction of real time PAYE information (added 18/1/12)
Tax allowances and national insurance thresholds for 2012-13 (updated 18/1/12)
National insurance holiday (updated 18/1/12)
Abolition of cycle to work day breakfasts and other tax reliefs (added 18/1/12)
Tax-free mileage reimbursement (added 18/1/12)
Tax treatment of employer-supported childcare and vouchers (updated 18/1/12)
State pensions (updated 24/1/12)
Auto-enrolment and the national employment savings trust (NEST) (updated 29/1/12)
Contracting out of additional state pension (added 24/1/12)
Pension liability on incorporation, merger or winding up (updated 2/4/10)
VSLH3 Chapter 31: Working time, time off and leave
On-call time as working time (updated 2/4/10)
Holiday pay and long-term sickness (updated 15/2/10)
Statutory sick pay (updated 8/1/12)
Fit notes (updated 30/1/11)
Illness during annual leave (added 15/2/10)
Children and young people as employees (added 30/1/11)
Right to request time off for training (updated 22/9/11)
Workers memorial day (added 15/2/10)
Anti-slavery day (updated 2/1/12)
VSLH3 Chapter 32: Rights of parents and carers
Statutory maternity, paternity and adoption leave and pay (updated 8/1/12)
Additional paternity leave and pay (updated 8/1/12)
Flexible working to care for children (updated 2/1/12)
VSLH3 Chapter 33: Disciplinary matters, grievances and whistleblowing
Code of practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures (updated 15/6/09)
Tribunals can pass whistleblowing disclosures to regulators (added 2/4/10)
VSLH3 Chapter 34: Termination of employment
Effective date of termination for summary dismissal by post (added 7/11/10)
Increase in qualifying period for unfair dismissal (added 29/1/12)
VSLH3 Chapter 35: Redundancy
Statutory redundancy pay (updated 8/1/12)
VSLH3 Chapter 37: Employment claims and settlement
Employment disputes and settlement (updated 29/1/12)
VSLH3 Chapter 41: Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
Criminal record checks (updated 20/6/10)
Vetting and barring scheme (updated 20/6/10)
Regulated activity under the vetting and barring scheme (updated 20/6/10)
Registration of health and adult social care providers (updated 20/6/10)
VOLUNTEERING
VSLH3 Chapter 39: Volunteers
"Fit and proper person" certificate for volunteers? (updated 13/6/11)
Volunteer rights call to action (updated 22/3/11)
Issues in reimbursing volunteer expenses (added 14/11/10)
Volunteers & mileage reimbursement (added 18/1/12)
Volunteering confirmed not to be an occupation (updated 31/3/11)
Paid "volunteer" held not to be working under a contract (added 29/5/11)
Volunteers without sponsorship certificate not allowed into UK (added 22/3/11)
Children and young people as volunteers (added 30/1/11)
EQUALITY
VSLH3 Chapter 28: Equal opportunities in employment
VSLH3 Chapter 42: Equal opportunities: Goods, services and facilities
These provisions have been moved to a separate page, EQUALITY, but can still be accessed from this contents list.
Equality Act (updated 28/5/11)
Equalities Act charities exemption (updated 11/1/12)
Follow-up on homophobic banter case (added 28/5/11)
Pregnancy gossip can be discrimination and harassment (added 28/5/11)
Belief in animal rights and in public service broadcasting as protected beliefs (updated 13/6/11)
Time off to attend Friday prayers (added 5/6/11)
TUC/CIPD guidance on managing age in the workplace (added 28/5/11)
Abolition of default retirement age (updated 2/1/12)
Comparator for disability discrimination (updated 10/10/10)
Guidance on equal pay audits (added 6/9/10)
Compromise agreements and discrimination claims (added 28/5/11)
Catholic adoption agency still seeking to change its objects (updated 1/11/12)
HEALTH AND SAFETY
VSLH3 Chapter 40: Health and safety
"Common sense, common safety" h&s proposals (added 25/5/11)
Abolition of Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (added 25/5/11)
HSE infoline to disappear on 30 September (updated 22/9/11)
Risk, liability and the social value of activities (added 25/5/11)
First corporate manslaughter conviction (updated 25/5/11)
H&S policies and risk assessments (updated 25/5/11)
Managing stress at work (added 25/5/11)
Harassment at work (added 25/5/11)
Children and young people as employees and volunteers (added 30/1/11)
Basic first aid leaflet (added 8/1/12)
RIDDOR changes (updated 22/9/11)
Register of occupational safety and health consultants (added 25/5/11)
You can also find legal updates for voluntary organisations on the websites of Bates Wells and Braithwaite Solicitors at www.bwbllp.com and the Charity Team at Russell-Cooke Solicitors at www.russell-cooke.co.uk, and information about changes in tax and finance law on the Sayer Vincent website at www.sayervincent.co.uk. EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES
Updated 14/1/12. This information updates various sections in The Russell-Cooke Voluntary Sector Legal Handbook.
PEACe — the Personnel, Employment Advice and Conciliation service based at London Voluntary Service Council — has a dedicated website with a document bank containing template HR policies, model procedures and guidance documents produced in partnership with Russell-Cooke Solicitors. These cover the employment basics through to the complex HR issues encountered by the voluntary and community sector. Many of the resources are free, but for others there is a charge. An annual subscription, providing unlimited downloads and an update alert service, is £100 + VAT, with a 10% discount for LVSC, NCVO or Children England members and Target HR participants. Details are at www.lvsc.org.uk/peace.
The Church Urban Fund has updated Just employment: A guide to employing staff in faith-based projects. This includes a large range of online guidance, case studies and templates intended primarily for faith-based organisations but suitable for most small organisations. It is at tinyurl.com/7g2xzoy. Its eight sections include introduction, recruitment and selection, documentation, pay and reward, performance management, dismissal and redundancy, policies and procedures, and volunteers.
ACAS has created an online "model workplace" to help employers identify and resolve problems at work. Its 10 modules, each of which includes seven to 10 multiple choice questions and takes about 15 minutes, cover recruitment, selection and induction; pay and reward; performance management; flexible working and work-life balance; equality and diversity; communication and involvement; employee representation; discipline and grievance; managing change; and key performance indicators in people management. Details are at www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2806.
Enforcing basic workplace rights, published by the Trades Union Congress on 2 December 2011, is intended for union officials and representatives, but useful for everyone. It outlines the role played by the UK's four main employment-related statutory agencies — the Health and Safety Executive, Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, Gangmasters Licensing Authority and HMRC national minimum wage enforcement team — and describes the powers of enforcement officers and the sanctions employers can face for breaking employment law. It is at www.tuc.org.uk/tucfiles/177/enforcingbasicworkplacerights.doc.
The government's pay and work rights confidential helpline gives employers, workers and union reps basic information and advice about the national minimum wage, agricultural minimum wage, working time (in particular the 48-hour limit and night work), employment agency standards and gangmaster licensing standards. The telephone helpline is open 8am-8pm weekdays and 9am-1pm Saturdays, on 0800 917 2368 (free from landlines and most mobiles). An online enquiry form is at https://payandworkrights.direct.gov.uk/. The telephone helpline has translation facilities.
The Cranfield Trust has a free internet HR advice service for registered charities. After becoming a member of the service, charities are able to post their HR queries on a dedicated website and receive bespoke answers from experienced HR professionals. Where questions are about sensitive situations, or where confidentiality is required, questions can also be dealt with off forum. More information is available on the Trust's website via tinyurl.com/d25w49. The Trust also provides free tailored management consultancy projects addressing HR and other management issues, working with a national register of 700 volunteer consultants who are management professionals from the commercial sector. Information is at www.cranfieldtrust.org.
Updated 14/1/12. This information updates various sections in The Russell-Cooke Voluntary Sector Legal Handbook.
PEACe — the Personnel, Employment Advice and Conciliation service based at London Voluntary Service Council — has a dedicated website with a document bank containing template HR policies, model procedures and guidance documents produced in partnership with Russell-Cooke Solicitors. These cover the employment basics through to the complex HR issues encountered by the voluntary and community sector. Many of the resources are free, but for others there is a charge. An annual subscription, providing unlimited downloads and an update alert service, is £100 + VAT, with a 10% discount for LVSC, NCVO or Children England members and Target HR participants. Details are at www.lvsc.org.uk/peace.
The Church Urban Fund has updated Just employment: A guide to employing staff in faith-based projects. This includes a large range of online guidance, case studies and templates intended primarily for faith-based organisations but suitable for most small organisations. It is at tinyurl.com/7g2xzoy. Its eight sections include introduction, recruitment and selection, documentation, pay and reward, performance management, dismissal and redundancy, policies and procedures, and volunteers.
ACAS has created an online "model workplace" to help employers identify and resolve problems at work. Its 10 modules, each of which includes seven to 10 multiple choice questions and takes about 15 minutes, cover recruitment, selection and induction; pay and reward; performance management; flexible working and work-life balance; equality and diversity; communication and involvement; employee representation; discipline and grievance; managing change; and key performance indicators in people management. Details are at www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2806.
Enforcing basic workplace rights, published by the Trades Union Congress on 2 December 2011, is intended for union officials and representatives, but useful for everyone. It outlines the role played by the UK's four main employment-related statutory agencies — the Health and Safety Executive, Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, Gangmasters Licensing Authority and HMRC national minimum wage enforcement team — and describes the powers of enforcement officers and the sanctions employers can face for breaking employment law. It is at www.tuc.org.uk/tucfiles/177/enforcingbasicworkplacerights.doc.
The government's pay and work rights confidential helpline gives employers, workers and union reps basic information and advice about the national minimum wage, agricultural minimum wage, working time (in particular the 48-hour limit and night work), employment agency standards and gangmaster licensing standards. The telephone helpline is open 8am-8pm weekdays and 9am-1pm Saturdays, on 0800 917 2368 (free from landlines and most mobiles). An online enquiry form is at https://payandworkrights.direct.gov.uk/. The telephone helpline has translation facilities.
The Cranfield Trust has a free internet HR advice service for registered charities. After becoming a member of the service, charities are able to post their HR queries on a dedicated website and receive bespoke answers from experienced HR professionals. Where questions are about sensitive situations, or where confidentiality is required, questions can also be dealt with off forum. More information is available on the Trust's website via tinyurl.com/d25w49. The Trust also provides free tailored management consultancy projects addressing HR and other management issues, working with a national register of 700 volunteer consultants who are management professionals from the commercial sector. Information is at www.cranfieldtrust.org.
"WEEKLY PAY" FOR REDUNDANCY PAY AND UNFAIR DISMISSAL AWARDS
FOR 2012-13
Updated 8/1/12. This information updates ss.35.7.1, 37.4.2 and various other sections in The Russell-Cooke Voluntary Sector Legal Handbook.
From 1 February 2012 the maximum compensatory award for unfair dismissal is increased from £68,400 to £72,300. The maximum basic award is increased from £12,000 to £12,900.
The maximum "weekly pay" for calculating certain statutory entitlements, including statutory redundancy pay for redundancies taking effect on or after 1 February 2012, is increased from £400 to £430.
The limit on guarantee payments when an employee is not provided with work is increased from £22.20 to £23.50, and the minimum compensation for a worker excluded or expelled from a trade union goes up from £7,600 to £8,100.
The Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2011 is at www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/3006/made.
FOR 2012-13
Updated 8/1/12. This information updates ss.35.7.1, 37.4.2 and various other sections in The Russell-Cooke Voluntary Sector Legal Handbook.
From 1 February 2012 the maximum compensatory award for unfair dismissal is increased from £68,400 to £72,300. The maximum basic award is increased from £12,000 to £12,900.
The maximum "weekly pay" for calculating certain statutory entitlements, including statutory redundancy pay for redundancies taking effect on or after 1 February 2012, is increased from £400 to £430.
The limit on guarantee payments when an employee is not provided with work is increased from £22.20 to £23.50, and the minimum compensation for a worker excluded or expelled from a trade union goes up from £7,600 to £8,100.
The Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2011 is at www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/3006/made.
