This month’s top 10 questions from HR professionals (XpertHR

With flooding having affected many areas of the country throughout July it’s not surprising that employers have been checking their pay obligations with regard to employees who are prevented from coming into work by severe weather conditions. But which other XpertHR FAQs have HR professionals been clicking on this month? We look at the top 10 most frequently asked HR questions during July.

1. Is an employer required to pay employees who cannot make it into work because of severe weather conditions?

2. If an employee being taken through the statutory disciplinary procedure submits a step-one grievance about his or her potential dismissal, is the employer obliged to follow the statutory grievance procedure in relation to this?

3. How soon before a child's sixth birthday must an application for flexible working be made?

4. Where an employee has been absent on maternity leave must she return to work for a particular period of time before qualifying for another period of maternity leave?

5. What comprises an offer of employment?

6. In a redundancy situation, can an employee try out a new job offered as suitable alternative employment?

7. Where an employee has been given notice of redundancy, if he or she seeks to leave before the end of the notice period to take up a new job will this affect his or her statutory redundancy payment?

8. If an employer failed to follow its procedures for employees on probation would a dismissed probationer have any redress?

9. Where a job applicant does not give his or her current or most recent employer as a named referee, can this employer be contacted instead of the named referee?

10. Where an individual has been employed on a 12-month fixed-term contract to cover maternity leave, can the employer terminate the contract early if the woman on maternity leave decides to return early?

Related entries: June's top 10 HR questions