MODEL POLICY ON COMPRESSED HOURS

Employees working standard full-time hours can find it difficult to maintain the right balance between their work and personal commitments. This means that where employers are able to offer flexible working options, they can reap dividends in terms of, for example, improved productivity and reduced absence from employees more content with their work-life balance.

One option for employers is to offer "compressed hours", whereby employees work their total number of contractual hours over fewer working days with no reduction in pay. The XpertHR policies and documents section now offers a model policy on compressed hours providing guidance on this form of flexible working.

Jo Stubbs, Editor

Employment law

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

Tribunal update: Christian telesales agent alleges dismissal for refusal to lie to customers
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.

The introduction of employment tribunal fees
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.

Case report round-up: Employer vicariously liable for whole discrimination award
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.

Case reports stop press
XpertHR's case reports stop press section highlights recent key cases including the Supreme Court decision in President of the Methodist Conference v Preston restoring the employment tribunal decision that a minister of religion was not an employee and could not therefore claim unfair dismissal.

Health and safety

How to deal with personality disorders in the workplace
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.

International

International guide updates: May 2013
Updates to XpertHR's international section this month include changes to the Belgium, China, Germany, Hong Kong and Ireland guides.

From our blogs

Dental nurse's constructive dismissal after apple eating, mobile phone and Facebook warnings
A round-up of links to stories about employment tribunal rulings reported in the week beginning 6 May 2013, during which a tribunal found that a dental nurse was constructively dismissed after warnings over eating an apple while on reception, using her mobile for personal calls, and going on Facebook during work time.

What tribunals have found to be (or not to be) a "philosophical belief" under equality legislation
We round up the eclectic list of beliefs that claimants have argued before tribunals constitute "philosophical beliefs" under equality legislation.

HR data round-up May 2013: Public sector still leads on annual leave
XpertHR's HR data round-up for May 2013 looks at latest benchmarking data on annual leave entitlements. We also provide links to all the latest additions to XpertHR Benchmarking and present our regular round-up of the best HR data blog posts and HR infographics.

Shared parental leave - last chance to have your say
The Government's consultation on how the proposed system of shared parental leave and pay will work closes on Friday 17 May 2013.

News from XpertHR

Coming soon to XpertHR
Forthcoming additions to XpertHR include guidance on dealing with the provision of employee benefits following a TUPE transfer in our "how to" section.