Updated guidance on the extended furlough scheme raises more questions than it answers, says Karen Plumbley-Jones, employment law expert at law firm Womble Bond Dickinson.  more»

The best way to manage absence is to ensure that employees provide as much information as possible. We need to know the level of absence, analyse the information and target strategies at a company and an individual basis. This information is captured in a return to work interview. more»

Andrew Willis, head of legal at Croner, explains what you can do if your staff is ignoring social distancing protocol. more»

Despite a statutory right to 20 days holiday each year, many self-employed workers don't get anywhere near that number according to new research. Three quarters of a million small firm owners are missing out on summer holidays to focus on work. more»

Small business employers don't have a choice over whether they pay statutory sick pay. As long as an employee is eligible they are legally entitled to receive SSP. more»

Rules on minimum annual leave are included in the Working Time Regulations 1998, as are weekly rest breaks and minimum time between shifts. more»

Small businesses need to prepare for a rise in unfair dismissal claims due to post-furlough redundancies are more, according to legal experts. more»

Laura Kearsley, partner and solicitor in the employment team at law firm Nelsons, discusses what the Spain quarantine means for employers – and whether they’re expected to pay for the employee’s absence during self-isolation. more»

Now, with lockdown restrictions slowly beginning to ease, offices are planning for reopening. A new ‘blended’ model of working will become the norm, with some employees always working from home, in the office or a combination of both. ClearPeople CEO, Katya Linossi discusses how employers can get their furloughed staff back to work. more»

This article seeks to answer any questions you as an SME employer, might have on disciplinary rules and procedures. more»