HR Articles

While the Government grapples with whether to continue with the planned final easing of lockdown restrictions on 21 June 2021, employers are continuing with their preparations to welcome employees (at least partially) back to the workplace.

Whistleblowers are in the headlines following the Dyson report into the Panorama interview in 1995 with the Diana, Princess of Wales. Lord Dyson found that Martin Bashir had acted deceitfully in the way he obtained the interview with the Princess of Wales.  

In modern employment terminology, the word ‘work’ is often associated with the word ‘life’ as companies and employees alike pursue the Holy Grail of work-life balance and work-life integration. However, a joint World Health Organisation/International Labour Organisation report released at the beginning of this week, suggests a strong relationship between the words ‘work’ and ‘death’!

A survey conducted by the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) found that 78% of employers had no plans to check employee’s vaccine status before returning to the workplace. 

The Government is consulting on how its proposed flexi-job apprenticeship schemes could be run, with input invited until 1 June 2021.

The House of Lords COVID-19 committee has acknowledged that hybrid working is here to stay. In the report Beyond Digital: Planning for a Hybrid World the COVID-19 committee acknowledged that hybrid working was always going to come at some point, but the pandemic has accelerated it. 

With the summer months fast approaching and with the fatigue of more than a year of lockdowns weighing on us, many are hoping the second half of this year will provide ample opportunity to enjoy holidays abroad again.

Within 48 hours of its announcement, all six of the English clubs involved in the proposed breakaway European Super League have withdrawn from the project as result of outspoken opposition pressure from their own supporters the public including their domestic target audience of TV subscribers and the UK Government. As only three clubs remain, it is clear that the project will not go ahead.

The Government continues to consider whether ‘Covid status certificates’ or ‘vaccine passports’ could be rolled out as part of the road map out of lockdown. Last week it was reported that steps were being taken to draw up a scheme. 

As the ‘work from home if you can’ instruction is set to come to an end in June employers could face employees concerns about feeling safe in the working environment. In the case of Rodgers v Leeds Laser Cutting Limited, a Claimant was dismissed after he text his manager to say he would not be returning to work until ‘Covid restrictions eased’ as he was worried about infecting his vulnerable children.