Q: What are my obligations when it comes to employee training?
A: The training you offer your employees, either in-house or by using external suppliers, is a matter for you. You should be aware, though, that this is an issue that’s moving up the political agenda, so change is possible. The Government’s recently appointed Skills Envoy has said UK work skills are falling behind our international competitors and that urgent action is needed. He has threatened new regulation if businesses don’t ensure within the next three years that all their employees can read, write and use a computer comfortably.
Read our short guide to using training effectively
Q: Do my employees have to retire when they reach a certain age?
A: Last year saw the introduction of new rules prohibiting age-related discrimination. However, the Government kept in place a default retirement age of 65, which means employers can retire employees any time after that point without fear of being accused of unfair dismissal. This is not the end of the story, though. The default retirement provision has now been challenged, and a final decision is unlikely to emerge from the courts within the next 18 months. Bear in mind also that looming pensions problems make it likely that over the coming years the Government will wish to start encouraging employees to keep working longer into their old age.
Read our short guide to discrimination
Q: Does it matter what I write in an employee reference?
A: Tread carefully when putting anything in writing about an employee, even when they have left and are looking for a reference when moving to a new employer. Bear in mind that what you write may be covered by a wide range of legislation, from data protection rules that limit the personal information you can divulge, to anti-discrimination regulations. If in doubt, have your reference checked by your legal adviser. Remember that you are not obliged to provide references, but it is an almost universal practice and failing to provide one might unfairly cast a very poor light on your former employee.
0 Response to “HR Need to Know - employee training, age discrimination, references”