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Establishing a successful recruitment process and clear written employment contracts for new employees can have a major impact on your business.

Every business needs to be aware of its obligations under minimum wage and equal pay laws, as well as recent pensions auto-enrolment changes.

You must comply with legal restrictions on employees' working hours and time off, or risk claims, enforcement action and even prosecution.

The right employment policies are an essential part of effective staff management. Make sure any policy is clear and well communicated to employees.

While sick employees need to be treated fairly, you need to ensure that 'sickness' is not being used as cover for unauthorised absence.

Most pregnant employees are entitled to maternity leave and maternity pay, while new fathers are entitled to paternity leave and paternity pay.

As well as undermining morale, illegal discrimination can lead to workplace grievances. Employee discrimination is covered by the Equality Act 2010.

Home, remote and lone workers are becoming increasingly commonplace. Key issues include communication and how to manage and motivate people remotely.

The right approach to consulting with and providing information to your employees can improve employee motivation and performance.

Disciplinary and grievance issues can be a major burden to employers. Putting in place and following the right procedures is essential.

Following the right dismissal and redundancy procedures helps protect your business and minimise the risk of a legal dispute at tribunal.

Employment tribunal claims are a worrying prospect for any employer. A tribunal case is a no-win situation – even if the claim is unjustified.

Risk of "burnout" as more people work long hours

11 September 2015

Risk of "burnout" as more people work long hoursThe number of people working excessive hours has risen by 15% since 2010, according to the TUC.

The TUC analysis reveals that the number of employees working more than 48 hours per week has now reached 3,417,000 - up by 453,000 since 2010, following more than a decade of decline in long hours working.

It warns that regularly working more than 48 hours per week is linked to a significantly increased risk of developing heart disease, stress, mental illness, strokes and diabetes.

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Britain's long hours culture is hitting productivity and putting workers' health at risk."

According to the research, many people are working unpaid overtime and at least a million say that they want to cut their excessive hours.

Those working long hours are still disproportionately men (2,544,000 men compared to 873,000 women in 2015) but the number of women working 48 hour plus weeks has increased by 18% since 2010, compared to a 15% increase in the number of men.

The TUC is calling on the Government to reassess its negative view of the EU Working Time Directive, which has been brought into UK law and stipulates a 48-hour working week. Many long hours employees report that they feel pressured to "opt-out" from the 48-hour limit as a condition of employment (individual opt-outs are currently allowed by law).

All areas of the UK have seen an increase in the number of long-hours workers but Yorkshire and the Humber has seen by far the biggest increase with 30% more employees working over 48 hours a week in 2015 than in 2010. There have also been big increases in Wales (22%) and London (21%).

The growth in long hours has impacted differently on various industries. The biggest increases have been in mining and quarrying (64%), agriculture, fishing and forestry (43%), accommodation and food services (36%), health and social work (32%) and education (31%).

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