Suspension is not a step to be taken lightly. But neither must it be shied away from. It is a step in the disciplinary procedure, not a punishment in its own right, and does not imply...

by Cathy Norton Many businesses in the retail motor industry are groups, and sadly many are having to make cuts to adapt to the new ‘credit crunch’ realities. A recent decision against JJB...

by Cathy Norton The government is to scrap the mandatory three-step process known as the statutory dismissal and grievance procedure (SDGP). It will be replaced on April 6 2009 with a ‘fair and...

by Cathy Norton From April 6, the government has introduced additional workplace rights for employees. In these challenging times, the one that many auto retailers may find alarming and confusing is...

by Cathy Norton Many motor retailers have made redundancies in the current economic downturn. No doubt there will be others too, if the government’s scrappage scheme revival proves short-lived....

by Cathy Norton If we have indeed reached the bottom of this recession, then many auto retailers will be starting to recruit again – and when you do, you need to be ready. Tribunal claims are...

As ever, the government groups changes in employment law together so that they generally appear in the spring and the autumn, making it easier for companies to keep up and comply. With all of their...

The term ‘garden leave’ is bandied around with nonchalance in the motor industry. People often seem to assume that employers can automatically prevent an employee from working for the...

Whistleblowing is one of those areas that many people feel uncomfortable about – the school sneak still has connotations about it. But it is a highly effective way of rooting out bad practice...

Appeals might arise after disciplinary action or a dismissal, through redundancy selection, grounds of ill health or retirement, or from an employee’s grievance. Whatever the reason, the basic...

Most employers take a common sense approach to complaints and try to deal with them informally initially. But case law suggests that, today, this is dangerous once a complaint has been put in writing...

When you need to cut costs, most people think slashing headcount is the easy option. Don’t be fooled. Nowadays, redundancies must be fair, which requires planning, objective selection criteria,...

One in three road accidents are caused by drivers on business journeys, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Driving is at the heart of our industry, but many policies we...

A good company handbook can really improve transparency in a business, laying out clear standards and giving good protection for both the employer and employee. A typical section for example might...

You may not realise it, but as soon as someone has turned up ready and willing to work, and the organisation has agreed to pay them for their services, a contract exists. The fact is that an agreement...