A ban on combustible cladding in the UK should apply to all new high-rise buildings, the chartered body for safety and health professionals has said. Housing Secretary, James Brokenshire, announced at the Conservative Party conference that new high-rise residential buildings, hospitals, registered care homes and student accommodation will be covered by the ban. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), which submitted a response to the consultation on the ban, believes it “provides some clarity and simplification” for the ... Continue reading

Employers should stop asking job applicants how much they earn and include salary details in adverts to help close the gender pay gap, says Young Women’s Trust, a charity that supports young women on low or no pay. The charity commissioned a YouGov survey of employers that found that nearly half ask prospective employees about their current salary and 42% admit to not including any wage details when advertising roles. The practice is most common in the private sector.  Some US states and cities have already banned employers asking candidat... Continue reading

A director has been ordered to pay wages and expenses totalling £5,145 at a hearing at Bristol Magistrates’ Court. The prosecution comes after an investigation by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate – a government body that enforces rights on behalf of agency workers. National Recruitment Limited, trading as Cotterell and Gifford, withheld wages to two workers for work they did in December 2015 and February 2016. The director was also guilty of failing to provide the right information to his workers when they started their jobs. ... Continue reading

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has issued guidance on the impact on workplace rights in the event of a no Brexit deal. The guidance is part of a series of technical notices, which set out information to allow businesses and citizens to understand what they would need to do in a ‘no deal’ scenario, so they can make informed plans and preparations. This notice informs businesses, workers and citizens of the UK’s plans to continue workplace protections in the unlikely event that the UK leaves the EU in March 20... Continue reading

Union Unite has described a new ‘appearance and standards’ code for all staff employed by South Yorkshire police as being ‘draconian’ and not reflecting society. The code introduces stringent rules for all staff including those in non-public facing roles. In particular, Unite is concerned over the rules regarding hair, facial hair, tattoos, jewellery and footwear. With regards to hair the policy states: “Wear your hair so that it is cut or secured above the collar and ears. Extreme and vivid hair colouring is not permitted. Hair s... Continue reading