Ehsan Ahmad, Author at Reshape HR

29Mar

Employment Law Update – April 2022

As April descends upon us (we can’t believe it either)……it is important to note some of the key changes in relation to Employment Law, such as:

NMW/NLW rates as of 1st April 2022
Changes to Employment Allowance (EA)
Gender pay gap
IR35

We have made a list of the some of the key changes in the attached document.

Employment-Law-Changes-April-2022-4 Download

Reshape HR is here to assist. We work with a variety of clients based across the UK, so if you are looking for HR or Payroll support or simply looking to run something past us, please do get in touch with us via:

T: 0141 471 5510
E: info@reshapehr.com
W: reshapehr.com

24Mar

Neurodiversity Celebration Week

Ehsan AhmadGeneral, HR

Neurodiversity celebration week is built around challenging the stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences and to encourage schools, universities and businesses to recognise the many talents and positives of being neurodivergent.

Siena Castellon, who founded Neurodiversity celebration week has stated on their website: “I founded Neurodiversity Celebration Week in 2018 because I wanted to change the way learning differences are perceived.

What is Neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity (or neurodivergent for a singular person) describes individuals who experience various difference related to social ability and cognition such as:

Autism
ADHD
Dyslexia
Dyspraxia
Dyscalculia

Being neurodivergent can affect someone in different ways, depending on their condition, what strategies they have developed already and how their difference affects them.

According to the UK Department of Education, 15% of students in the UK have a type of learning difference, additionally it is estimated that every 1 in 7 adults are neurodiverse. These statistics show that almost any workplace, classroom or a lecture hall will have at least one person that is neurodiverse.

Why Celebrate Neurodiversity Celebration Week?

Bringing awareness to schools and to the public – Showing how important it is to understand that giving a neurodiverse person the right environment to them will show the amazing strengths they have, normally showing a different thought method.

Empowering the neurodiverse to not be discouraged – According to www.autism.org.uk: “autistic people can be more at risk of being bullied than their peers.”

Discovering new and different ways of learning – Enabling everyone to learn is critical and that may mean incorporating new and different ways to help neurodiverse people train for work. It can be difficult for some to understand what they are learning.

How can you get involved with Neurodiversity Celebration Week?

Signing up on Neurodiversity Celebration Weeks website – Signing up on the website will give access to resources related to Neurodiversity. These resources can be used for spreading awareness inside your workplace about neurodiversity.

Neurodiversity awareness training – This week is a great opportunity to spread awareness throughout your organisation, either virtually or in your office.

Advertise Neurodiversity Celebration Week – Working with your marketing team to create a leaflet or an email can be a simple and effective way to share the word.

What can I do to help?

If you would like to help by donating to a charity focused on neurodiversity, then please donate to one of the following charities:

ADHD Foundation – ADHD Foundation is the “UK’s leading neurodiversity charity, offering strength-based, lifespan service for the 1 in 5 of us who live with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia and Tourette’s syndrome.” If you would like to donate to the ADHD Foundation, then please go to www.justgiving.com/adhdfoundation.

AchieveAbility – AchieveAbility is a user led charity committed to working with adults who are neurodivergent and dyslexic. They work with their partners to publish research-informed work and by delivering practice in the fields of employment, education, training and more. If you would like to donate to AchieveAbility, then please go to https://localgiving.org/donation/achieveability

Care Trade – Care Trade focuses on supporting and preparing autistic people for employment within business and organisations, this includes; educating businesses about autism, training autistic people, organising events to bring awareness about autism and neurodiversity. If you would like to donate to Care Trade, then please go to www.care-trade.org/donate/.

08Mar

✨🌹✨Happy International Women’s Day 🌹✨🌹

Ehsan AhmadOther

To all the women out there, being a “Women” itself is a super power.

✨🌹✨Happy International Women’s Day 🌹✨🌹

#InternationalWomensDay
#WomenPower
#BreakTheBias
#IWD2022
#HR

23Feb

Covid-19 – Upcoming changes in Scotland

Ehsan AhmadCOVID-19

Nicola Sturgeon yesterday outlined her plans for “Living with Covid” in Scotland, some of the key changes are:

✅ From Monday 28th February, it will no longer be a legal requirement show covid-19 passport at certain type of venues and large events.

✅ From Monday 21st March, the government legislation around wearing face masks in indoor public spaces such as shops and public transport will no longer be applicable.

✅ From Monday 21st March, places of worship and service providers would no longer legally be required to take Scottish Government measures.

If you would like to find out more information on the above or would like any assistance with any of your HR policies and procedures, whether this is in relation to Covid or not, than simply get in touch with a member of our team:

T: 0141 471 5510
E: info@reshapehr.com
W: reshapehr.com

#HR
#EmploymentLaw
#Covid19
#CovidRestrictions
#Scotland

22Feb

Covid-19 – Upcoming changes in England

Ehsan AhmadCOVID-19, HR

Boris Johnson yesterday outlined his plans for “Living with Covid”, some of the key changes are:

✅ From Thursday 24th February, it will no longer be a legal requirement to isolate following a positive test.
✅ From Thursday 24th February, if you are identified as a close contact, you will no longer have to isolate following a positive test
✅ From Thursday 24th March, SSP provisions which were extended due to Covid will also end
✅ Free testing will end from Tuesday 1st April to the general public including if you have any Covid-19 symptoms, although you can still pay for tests if required.
The elderly and the vulnerable will be excluded from this and will continue to get free tests.

T: 0141 471 5510
E: info@reshapehr.com
W: reshapehr.com

#HR
#EmploymentLaw
#Covid19
#CovidRestrictions
#England

07Feb

National Sickie Day

Ehsan AhmadHR

National Sickie Day

In the UK, the first Monday of February is known as National Sickie Day, as it is statically proven to be a day when most people will phone in sick at work, it was formally devised in 2011 by ELAS Group.

Why does it happen?

One of the most contributing factors for this is that it coincides with the first payday since Christmas for most people, whilst another theory is that perhaps with the start of a new year, employees generally start to re-evaluate their careers, meaning most sickness absences is relating to actually able to attend job interviews with a potential new employer.

How can you manage absences?

Most line managers have started to accept text messages and emails from employees who plan to take the day off, instead of challenging their reasons for absence and ensuring that the business’s absence reporting procedure is being followed and the sickness does not trigger any absence points, in-line with the Company’s policy.

This approach may in turn follow onto other employees and allow a culture where absence is accepted without any due protocols or follow-ups.

Although the stigma around mental health is on the decrease as a result of many charitable and employer led campaigns, it is still common for employees to use cold, flu and other excuses to take a break from work by calling in sick as opposed to mentioning their mental health.

We at Reshape HR advise that you:

Review your absence reporting procedures
Communicate the absence reporting procedure and the sickness absence policy to all employees
Review your absence monitoring procedures and trigger points
Ensure line managers have the relevant training to undertake difficult conversation with employees
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that flexible working may be a common thing in the not-so-distant future, so ensure that you review any of the Company’s flexible working arrangements and ensure it is compatible with your business and your employees in a hybrid/remote working approach.
Perhaps have a wellbeing strategy in place within your business.
A report by CIPD in 2018 suggested that organisations which had a wellbeing policy and activities in place, experienced lower sickness absences by almost 52%.

If you would like to find out more information on an of the above or would like any assistance with any of your HR policies and procedures, than simply get in touch:

T: 0141 471 5510
E: info@reshapehr.com
W: reshapehr.com

#HR
#NationalSickieDay

04Feb

World Cancer Day

Ehsan AhmadOther

Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) created World Cancer Day in 2000 to educate the public about the signs and symptoms of cancer to ensure early detection and treatments.

In whatever way that you spread the message of World Cancer Day to your family, friends, colleagues, community will assist to get the message across to as many people as possible to talk, hear, read and learn about cancer.

#WorldCancerDay
#TimeToTalk
#KnowTheSigns

03Feb