Newsletters
Call Me The Grinch!
It’s the season of the work Christmas party, but at the risk of being accused of being Christmas kill-joys, here’s why we think you should think twice before you go. Every January, we receive calls from members being investigated for their alleged misconduct at...
Do You Use WhatsApp At Work?
Using WhatsApp and similar messaging services for work is now commonplace but can lead to significant problems. If you use WhatsApp at work, this newsletter contains essential advice. WhatsApp is really useful for sending quick messages, but therein lies the...
We Don’t Give Up!
Members could be forgiven for thinking that our work is just about disciplinary cases and grievances at work. It’s true that these two areas produce most of our work; but only just! BankAffinity recently won a claim in the County Court for a member who had...
Whistleblowing
Predictably we are now receiving more enquiries about whistleblowing or, in the jargon, making a protected disclosure. Why was this predictable? Because over the last 20 years most businesses have swung from well-intended and supportive personnel management to...
The Changing Face of Representation
It’s stating the obvious to say that over the last 30 years the workplace has changed dramatically through a combination of technology and much different employer and employee attitudes. One of the areas affected most has been what used to be personnel, now...
Major Step Forward In The Campaign For Fair Treatment Of Bank Staff
“We recognise that ensuring a fair environment for employees can be a good indicator of a firm’s culture, which we see as important for how it is treating its customers as well.” They’re the words of the FCA in a recent letter to the union. It’s a crystal-clear...
Does Your Employer Know You’re Disabled?
A recent case heard at the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) has highlighted the importance of disabled employees informing their employers of their disabilities. The Equality Act 2010 says that people are disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment...
Trying To Pull The Wool Over Your Eyes?
SPW is planning to introduce a new contract of employment. It says that it’s not changing any of the legacy terms that transferred from Lloyds Banking Group. However, it is tightening the post termination restrictions and requiring staff to give more notice...
Letter To Mr. Harry Baines – LLOYDS BANKING GROUP PENSIONS TRUSTEE LIMITED v WALKER & OTHERS
Future Working Arrangements: Key Advice
Many employers are now making key decisions about when and where they ask people to work in future. For example, Spotify has decided that staff can work from whatever location they choose, KPMG has opted to ask staff to work 2 days per week in the office and...
Dangerous Conversations In The Workplace
In my last newsletter I talked about the dangers of social media when it comes to work. But what about conversations in the workplace? What can’t you say and do? Free Speech The playwright, writer and poet Oscar Wilde famously said: “I may not agree with you,...
Asda Loses Latest Round In Equal Pay Case
Asda store workers have won a crucial round in the battle against the company to be paid at an equal rate as warehouse workers. In a case which started in 2016, thousands of store workers, who are predominately women, have argued that they should be paid at the...
Social Media: Protect Yourself!
Brexit, Covid, Megxit… millions of people share their views online every day. A quick lunchtime tweet on Twitter, sharing or liking a post on Facebook: most people think nothing of it. Yet one ‘in-the-moment’ comment could put your job at risk. We’ve dealt with...
COVID Update: Key Developments That May Affect You
As you’ll no doubt have read in the press, the Government has made several key announcements on how it plans to address the rising number of Covid-19 cases and how it plans to mitigate the effect on jobs. 1. The Job Support Scheme This scheme, as the Government...
Flexible Furlough
What’s Changing? The Government has announced that from 1st July, the furlough scheme is changing to a flexible scheme, where employers can bring furloughed staff back to work for any period of time, on any shift pattern, whilst still claiming a grant for the...
Covid-19 – Further Government Announcement
The government has finally published detailed guidance of what it expects from employers in various work settings and 5 key actions it expects employers to implement as soon as practical:"1. Work from home, if you canAll reasonable steps should be taken by...
Covid-19 – Further Government Announcement
The government has now published the more detailed brief referred to in the Prime Minister’s speech yesterday; the full document can be read here. What is most noticeable about the government’s brief is that it contains very little detail on the key issues,...
Government Covid-19 Announcement Sunday 10th May
This evening the Prime Minister announced what he described as the Government’s plans for handling the “next phase” of the Covid-19 pandemic and a set of options for England. Key employment points of his announcement were: people who can work from home should...
COVID-19: Schools Refusing To Accept Key Worker Children
We’ve received numerous calls from members who have been told by schools that, in their opinion, the members are not key workers, or they don’t qualify for school childcare because only one parent is a key worker. It seems that cases are largely being decided...
COVID-19: Vulnerable People
As at 20th March 2020, the Government is advising those who are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 to be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures. This group includes those who: 1. are aged 70 or older (regardless of medical...
COVID-19: School Provision and Key Workers
Are You A Key Worker? Schools, and all childcare providers, have been asked by the Government to continue to provide care for a limited number of children, including those whose parents are critical to the COVID-19 response. The Government has published a list...
BankAffinity Newsletters
BankAffinity’s Newsletters provide you with a regular source of important information that’s easily accessible and understandable.
To receive copies by email simply send your membership number and email address to 24hours@bankaffinity.co.uk