Personnel Today

6 days ago | personneltoday.com | Jo Faragher

Twelve ex-employees of a construction firm have been awarded compensation after their employer – which fell into administration last year – did not hold a formal consultation process. The former employees of groundworks company Bowie Construction will receive their payouts from the government’s Redundancy Payments Service as the business is now defunct. The tribunal found that the employees had been due a protective award under the Trade Union & Labour (Consolidation) Act 1992.

6 days ago | personneltoday.com | Adam McCulloch

Workers’ families and estates could be awarded compensation after their death if businesses breach a ban on zero-hours contracts under a government amendment to the Employment Rights Bill, now being considered in the House of Lords. It is already the case that employment tribunal claims can be brought in some cases after the worker or boss has died, usually if it involves unfair dismissal, redundancy or other individual rights.

6 days ago | personneltoday.com | Adam McCulloch

The world’s largest asset manager BlackRock has told its senior staff to return to the office five days a week. Sources familiar with the company’s plans have told the media that about 1,000 managing directors globally at BlackRock will be expected to work from the office full time. BlackRock has so far not commented on the stories circulating. The New York-based finance giant tightened its rules on office attendance in 2023, requiring staff to attend at least four days a week.

1 week ago | personneltoday.com | Jo Faragher

Gig or platform workers can be an overlooked group when it comes to employment protections and safety. Clarity on their employment status has historically relied on court decisions, and while the upcoming Employment Rights Bill will crack down on “exploitative” zero-hours contracts, Labour’s promise to simplify and streamline worker status is not part of the proposed legislation.

1 week ago | personneltoday.com | Rob Moss

A former cabinet minister will join activists today to demand that the government uses its Employment Rights Bill to outlaw the abusive use of non-disclosure agreements. Labour MP Louise Haigh, who resigned as transport secretary in November, will join campaigners this afternoon to deliver a petition to 10 Downing Street calling for a ban on the misuse of NDAs in cases of workplace harassment, discrimination and abuse.