O is for...

I’ve mentioned before that as a HR Manager, I love offering people jobs. It is one of the nice things that we get to do in HR. However, you then need to follow up your verbal offer with a written offer. This is usually a summary letter/email setting out the main terms of the job and is often accompanied by the main statement of employment particulars (employment contract).

The law changed in April 2020 to say that you now need to send the statement on or before their first day of employment (you used to have a couple of months).  

You also now need to include extra information in your statements. Contact me today if you would like me to check if your contracts are still compliant.

Occupational Health

It is highly likely that you have heard the term Occupational Health (OH) but you may not be 100% sure what it is.

As the name suggestions, OH focuses on the relationship between work (the occupation) and the health of an employee.

It is a relationship that works both ways where the employee’s health can affect their performance at work and on the flip side when an employee’s work can affect their health.

For example, if an employee has hurt their back, it may affect their ability to do their job. Alternatively if an employee regularly works in a very noisy environment or sits at a computer all day, this can affect their health.

OH is therefore an advisory service, providing advice to both employee and employer.  

As a small business, you may have never needed to call on an OH professional in the past but there are several reasons why you might need to use an OH provider:

• If an employee is on long term sick and you want an independent assessment of when they might return

• If an employee goes sick during a disciplinary process (you would be asking for advice on the employee’s fitness to attend a meeting)

• To carry our regular health assessments such as audiometry or HAVS testing

• If an employee is coming back to work and you need some advice on any reasonable adjustments you might need to make to help them back
  It is also advisable to get some OH advice if you are planning on dismissing someone due to ill health.

• You don’t need to sign up to expensive contracts or pay a fortune for OH advice as there are OH providers that provide support on a pay as you go basis if you need it.

Other HR Stuff

Want some help with a difficult employee issue? 

I’m not sure if we are on the new normal, the better normal or something else now but as Covid rumbles on, it is time to start looking at those HR issues that you have been putting off since before lockdown. The employee with poor performance that can no longer be carried, the one with high sickness absence, that disciplinary investigation that couldn’t be done remotely or even looking at how you can recruit people remotely.

If you would like some help with a tricky employee issue or some advice on recruiting the right person then book in a free 20 minute HR chat today. 

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