Swan Craig Solicitors

⚠️ Adverse weather alert: Know your rights and responsibilities during weather-related disruptions in the workplace. Read our latest blog to guidance: https://swancraig.co.uk/navigating-adverse-weather-and-employee-travel-disruption-a-guide-for-employers/

It's Race Equality Week, join us in fostering a workplace where diversity thrives and discrimination has no place! Every employee, every voice, every perspective matters ✊🏽✊🏿✊🏻

This February, we proudly stand with the LGBTQ+ community as we celebrate . Join us in fostering understanding, equality, and respect for all 🏳️‍🌈💙

Breaking the silence on ! 💬✨ Let's dive into an important conversation about mental health and workplace discrimination in our latest blog: https://swancraig.co.uk/workplace-mental-health/ 💙

Happy Data Privacy Day! 🔐

Dive into our latest blog where we unravel the legal imperatives of ensuring data protection compliance: https://swancraig.co.uk/navigating-the-digital-frontier-understanding-data-privacy-compliance-under-gdpr-and-the-data-protection-act-2018/

Knowledge is power, and in the digital age, protecting your information is not just a choice – it's a necessity.

Its National Compliment Day! 🌟

Whilst here at Swan Craig we love a compliment (positive reviews really do make our day!), we wanted to share a post based on the importance of maintaining a happy and healthy work environment, which is not only achieved by complimenting your employees but also nurturing a positive place to work.

We are using today as an opportunity to give some helpful hints and tips on how to nurture a healthy and happy workplace environment, read our blog below:
https://swancraig.co.uk/workplace-positivity-hr-legal-perspective/

Blue Monday - SWAN CRAIG Supposedly the most depressing day of the year. It’s January, pay day seems so far away, and the Festive Buzz has gone. Most people have returned to work and with the dull weather and long month, some employees may be feeling the January Blues. But this doesn’t have to be the case.  This year w...

It's national Get To Know Your Customers Day! 🌟 We invite you to share your thoughts with us and leave us a review! As a small business, we value your feedback, reviews are an integral part of our journey🗣️

Feeling stuck in your career? Whether it's slow progression or not knowing the next step, it can sometimes feel like you’re stuck in a bit of a rut.

Here we have put together some top tips to help you advance in your career: https://swancraig.co.uk/top-tips-to-advance-your-career/

Are you suffering from Blue Monday, or have staff who are? Take a read of our helpful blog:

Blue Monday - SWAN CRAIG Supposedly the most depressing day of the year. It’s January, pay day seems so far away, and the Festive Buzz has gone. Most people have returned to work and with the dull weather and long month, some employees may be feeling the January Blues. But this doesn’t have to be the case.  This year w...

Do you have HR queries? We share some we are asked so please contact us and we can help address your queries.

Question: How can I end a fixed term contract early?

Answer: It all depend on the contract clauses. If there is a contractual break clause which permits the contract to be ended with serving notice, then it can be terminated early provided that notice is given. If there is no break clause, then you would need to seek the other party's consent for an early termination. It may be the case you have to pay the balance of the monies owed under the fixed term period. Another option to terminate early would arise if a party committed a serious breach of the terms.

Are you aware of the changes on how fit notes can be issued? Our short blog explains

Fit Notes and changes to how they are issued - SWAN CRAIG Fit Notes are a “Statement of Fitness for Work” (colloquially known as sick notes), which is used to record an employee’s health and any health conditions impacting them. It states whether an employee is fit to work, not fit to work or fit to work with adjustments to their role (maybe fit) suc...

https://swancraig.co.uk/holiday-pay/
Following an important decision by the Supreme Court on holiday pay, we have summarised the position in our latest blog.

Holiday Pay - SWAN CRAIG In this case law update we look at the ramifications on holiday pay given a decision by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court recently heard the case of Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland v Agnew where it was found that employees could claim for historic underpayments even wher...

Did you see the Government's naming and shaming the other month? Not to worry if you missed it as we summarise it in this blog:
https://swancraig.co.uk/over-200-employers-named-by-the-government-for-failing-to-pay-national-minimum-wage-to-lowest-paid-staff/

As we are well and truly into summer, how is performance going in your workplace? A reminder to review our handy blog on performance appraisals: https://swancraig.co.uk/the-importance-of-performance-appraisals/

The Importance of Performance Appraisals - SWAN CRAIG Appraisal and performance processes can have a big impact on a businesses company culture. As well as this, they play a key role in staff morale and employee engagement levels. All of these things will increase a company’s brand and support employees within a business. Being committed to having an...

Did you see back in the Spring the new rights being afforded to parents and carers due to come in... check out our blog for further reading: https://swancraig.co.uk/additional-workers-protection-for-parents-and-carers-given-royal-assent/

News in regarding the Government's guidance on giving evidence in UK court cases from overseas on our latest blog:

Government Guidance on Giving Evidence Overseas via Video Link - SWAN CRAIG Looking at the taking or giving evidence from abroad for UK court cases and rules on which countries allow it.

What is a settlement agreement? It is a legal contract used to either change terms of employment, bring an employee’s employment to an end, or prevent an employment tribunal claim (litigation). Read more on our blog:
https://swancraig.co.uk/what-is-a-settlement-agreement-and-when-to-use-one/

What is a settlement agreement and when to use one? - SWAN CRAIG What is a settlement agreement? It is a legal contract used to either change terms of employment, bring an employee’s employment to an end, or prevent an employment tribunal claim (litigation). Settlement agreements (which used to be called Compromise Agreements) can be offered by either the emplo...

Academic investigations into mental health & life at home found that 1 in every 6.8 people have experienced mental health issues in the workplace with 12.7% of all sickness absence days are related to mental health. We explore this further: https://swancraig.co.uk/how-employers-can-help-employees-manage-their-mental-health-while-working-from-home/

How Employers Can Help Employees Manage Their Mental Health While Working From Home - SWAN CRAIG There have been numerous studies carried out over the past decade on the intertwining relationship between mental health and life at work. Academic investigations into this connection have found that 1 in every 6.8 people have experienced mental health issues in the workplace and that as many as 1...

Treating your employees fairly in the workplace is all part of being a great employer, but taking the necessary steps to ensure every team member receives fair and equal treatment is also necessary for staying compliant. Check out our blog:
https://swancraig.co.uk/disability-discrimination-in-the-workplace-a-summary-for-employers/

Disability Discrimination in the Workplace: A Summary for Employers - SWAN CRAIG Treating your employees fairly in the workplace is all part of being a great employer, but taking the necessary steps to ensure every team member receives fair and equal treatment is also necessary for staying compliant. Under the Equality Act 2010, it is illegal for employers to discriminate again...

On 10 May 2023 the Government announced that it would be amending the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill (the “Bill”) and abandoning the Sunset Clause within. See our blog:

Sunset Clause - SWAN CRAIG Government “U turn” to Revoke Sunset Clause On 10 May 2023 the Government announced that it would be amending the Retained EU Law(Revocation and Reform) Bill (the “Bill”) and abandoning the Sunset Clause within. What is the Sunset Clause? The Sunset Clause within the Bill stated that EU law ...

On 10 May 2023, the government made a number of announcements relating to Brexit and a number of these related to UK employment law. We provide a brief summary of the key proposals and which laws they will affect:
https://swancraig.co.uk/brexit-means-changes-to-employment-law/

The Government unlawfully revoked legislation which prevented employers using agency workers when workers were on strike the High Court recently decided. The Secretary of State sought to revoke this position without consultation which was a statutory duty to follow. A useful reminder for employers that consultation in any change or variation is key! Want to receive monthly employment law updates, contact us for details.

Changes to flexible working are coming including employees being able to make 2 flexible working requests in a 12 month period, and a 2 month window to deal with applications. Want to know more? Contact us for our monthly newsletter

Appraisal & performance processes have a big impact on a businesses' culture, playing a key role in staff morale, employee engagement levels, increasing a company’s brand & offering support. We discuss the Importance of Performance Appraisals in our blog

There are some myths flying around the workplace. Based on our experience as employment solicitors, we have set out our top five workplace myths to get to grips with them.

We discuss s*x discrimination in the workplace in our latest blog following the shocking allegations raised against the politician Angela Rayner and her alleged conduct towards the PM

https://swancraig.co.uk/news-updates/politics-highlighting-s*x-discrimination-in-the-workplace/

Thinking about changing your working pattern? We have provided a blog covering what you need to know about flexible working, with a handy flowchart as well: https://swancraig.co.uk/news-updates/what-you-need-to-know-about-flexible-working/

The Law Has Changed Around Employment Contracts And May Have Changed Since You Last Signed Your Contract. Do You Know What Your Contractual Obligations Are? Contact Us Today.

Swan Craig Solicitors Bristol