XpertHR is the online resource for employment law, HR good practice and benchmarking

On this week's XpertHR Weekly, we discuss how to manage bank holidays and the entitlement of part-time employees; employees on maternity leave; and employees on long-term sick leave. We also discuss how employers should deal with a request to work compressed hours (including their obligations around considering a flexible-working request) and the issues around the implemention of a compressed-hours request. 

The Court of Appeal held that an employer vicariously liable for an employee's discriminatory act had joint and several liability for the whole sum awarded in compensation, in the latest case report added to XpertHR.

The Supreme Court has restored the employment tribunal decision that a minister of religion was not an employee and could not therefore claim unfair dismissal.

Updates to XpertHR's international section this month include changes to the Belgium, China, Germany, Hong Kong and Ireland guides. 

We provide a summary and the full transcript of a recent employment tribunal ruling in which a Christian telesales agent claimed that he was discriminated against over his belief that potential customers should not be deceived to obtain sales.

A new model policy on compressed hours has been added to the XpertHR policies and documents service.

Consultant editor Darren Newman asks what impact the introduction of employment tribunal fees will have on the number of tribunal claims being pursued, and considers the long-term future of the tribunal system.

Personality disorder is a condition that must be managed sensitively. Occupational Health magazine explains what an organisation can do if a member of staff presents with the symptoms.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal held that a post-termination disclosure can constitute a protected disclosure for the purposes of a detriment claim under the Employment Rights Act 1996, in the latest case report added to XpertHR.

The latest XpertHR research looks at why organisations are using employee recognition schemes and how effective these schemes are in meeting their objectives.

On this week's XpertHR Weekly, we discuss how compensation is calculated in discrimination cases and the Employment Appeal Tribunal decision in HM Land Registry v McGlue EAT/0435/11, in which it provided guidance on remedies in discrimination claims, including injury to feelings awards and aggravated damages. We also discuss the importance of setting pay at the correct level and what role salary surveys can play in the pay-setting process. 

We provide a summary and the full transcript of a recent employment tribunal equal pay ruling in which the employer successfully argued that a difference in pay between the female claimant and a newer male recruit was caused by its need to offer him a competitive salary to get him to take the job. 

The latest addition to XpertHR International is a guide to employment law in Brazil. The guide provides a concise overview of the main points of employment law as a first point of reference for HR practitioners with responsibility for staff issues in Brazil. 

A National Insurance Contributions Bill, addressing the cost of employing people, and measures aimed at furthering the Government's deregulation agenda feature in the Queen's speech, which sets out legislation planned for the coming year.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal has considered the definition of "affected employees" in the context of a TUPE transfer and the obligation to inform and consult. 

As one of the UK's largest employers, Marks & Spencer was among the first companies to face auto-enrolment. Occupational Pensions looks at how it came up with and implemented a new pension arrangement that achieved the company's objectives and suited its diverse workforce.