The Xperthr Podcast

Louise Haycock, partner at law firm Fragomen, takes us through what employers need to know, and what actions they may need to take, following the end of the transition period around the UK leaving the EU.

What key employment cases should be on the HR radar in 2021? We highlight the most important upcoming cases and discuss their impact on HR, including those relating to: worker status, holiday pay, national minimum wage for sleep-in care workers, trade unions and collective bargaining, and equal pay. We also look at the impact of Brexit on EU case law and the state of play of employment tribunals. The 2021 cases that we discuss will decide the following questions: Are Uber drivers self-employed or are they workers, meaning that they are entitled to basic employment rights? Are sleep-in care workers entitled to the national minimum wage while they are asleep? Are employers permitted to make direct pay offers to employees "over the heads of the union" when collective bargaining breaks down? Should employers include voluntary overtime in the calculation of employees' holiday pay? How far should claims for the unlawful exclusion of overtime from holiday pay calculations be limited? How should employers calculate

Max Winthrop, partner and head of the employment law team at Short, Richardson & Forth, discusses the legal and practical consequences for HR of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme including: whether or not employers can require workers to be vaccinated; potential discrimination issues; contractual considerations; and practical steps around communication, strategy and policy.

Immigration solicitor Louise Haycock details what employers need to know with the end of the Brexit transition on December 31 2020, including the new points-based immigration system that came into force on 1 December.

Rosie Evans, behavioural scientist, discusses how HR can approach coaching, onboarding and evaluating remote workers in an emotionally intelligent way.

The HR community has been at the heart of the response from organisations to the coronavirus pandemic, dealing with ongoing uncertainty, emerging and re-emerging schemes while also dealing with perennial HR issues. Sarah-Jane Georges and Allen Liedkie, both account directors at behaviour change company Steps, discuss the best ways to develop behaviours to build resilience during these times.

Employment lawyer David Whincup provides practical tips on managing the end of a redundancy process.

Jo Broadbent, counsel knowledge lawyer at Hogan Lovells, provides practical guidance on the key discrimination decisions of the past ten years since the introduction of the Equality Act 2010, including cases relating to: discrimination arising from disability; religious and philosophical beliefs; sexual orientation discrimination; and the "costs plus" approach to justification of indirect discrimination. Jo also discusses future developments in discrimination legislation.

Employment lawyer Darren Newman discusses the Job Support Scheme, which takes effect on 1 November 2020, including: the parameters of the scheme and to whom it applies; funding arrangements; and its potential impact for employers. We also look at the consequences of the self-isolation regulations for employers and workers.

We talk to Joy Stephens about how organisations can create a more racially diverse and inclusive workplace, from the different forms that racism can take to microaggressions - what they are and how to deal with them.

Richard Martin from the employment relations and HR training provider byrne-dean joins us to discuss managing mental health wellbeing. He takes us through some of the mental health challenges arising from working arrangements as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and offers sound practical advice on meeting these challenges.

David Whincup, partner and head of employment at the London office of law firm Squire Patton Boggs, discusses the key elements of a whistleblowing complaint, and shares his tips on how employers can deal effectively with protected disclosures in the context of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Roianne Nedd, a diversity and inclusion expert, explores the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement. We discuss the concepts of white privilege and white fragility; how to be an effective ally; how organisations translate powerful conversations into meaningful action; and practical steps that organisations can take in the context of both recruitment and capability.

Darren Newman, employment lawyer, discusses how flexible furlough will work under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme from 1 July 2020.

Mary Lawrence, partner at law firm Osborne Clarke, joins us to discuss the key health and safety issues for HR professionals during the lifting of the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown.

Louise Haycock, immigration solicitor, discusses the steps that organisations need to take now to prepare their workforce for the effects of Brexit, including applying for sponsor licences, dealing with the implications of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on immigration, and other general workforce planning issues.

Victoria Lewis, chief executive at bryne-dean, joins us to talk about employee engagement and what it means during the coronavirus pandemic. She offers her unique insight into how HR can ensure employees continue to feel engaged, many of whom will be facing enduring challenges at this time.

Andy Langford, clinical director at Cruse Bereavement Care, joins us to discuss the impact of grief in the workplace, and the added challenges in the current climate of social distancing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. He offers sound, practical advice on supporting employees who have suffered a bereavement as a result of, or during, the coronavirus pandemic.

Nick Chronias, partner at DAC Beachcroft, guides you through the legal and practical considerations of running a collective consultation process with a remote workforce.

Darren Newman, employment lawyer, discusses the legal and practical considerations of managing annual leave during the coronavirus pandemic. Darren explores the law in this area, including the new right for certain employees to carry over their annual leave entitlement. He also discusses the extent to which employers are able to compel employees to take holiday at designated times, and an employer's right to postpone holiday requests.