Media Hub

27
Mar 2015

Minimum Wage recommendations 2015

The Low Pay Commission regularly advises the Government on recommendations for changes to the National Minimum Wage which take effect in October each year. On 23 February 2015, the Commission suggested that the largest increase since 2007 should apply and that the improved economic and labour market conditions should mean that such an increase can…

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27
Mar 2015

Knowledge of Disability

The Equality Act 2010 places a duty on employers to make reasonable adjustments for employees who have a disability within the meaning of this legislation.  The duty arises where a provision, criterion or practice applied by the employer puts the disabled person at a substantial disadvantage in comparison with those who are not disabled. Importantly,…

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27
Mar 2015

Dismissal and reasonableness of investigations

An Employment Tribunal’s examination of the fairness of a dismissal focuses largely on the extent to which the employer can show that it followed a fair procedure and acted reasonably in all the circumstances. Case law over time has developed a  test which requires the employer to show that they had an honest belief in…

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25
Mar 2015

Diabetes linked to repeated use of antibiotics

Researchers have found that repeated courses of antibiotics puts people at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A study by The European Journal of Endocrinology traced prescriptions of antibiotics given to a million patients in the UK, and looked at how many prescriptions had been given to just over 200,000 patients with both…

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24
Mar 2015

Hospital consultants urged to stay united

At a recent BMA consultants conference, committee chair Paul Flynn urged consultants to focus against the ‘very real’ threat of unfavourable changes to their working lives and contracts. Dr Flynn added that he still thought that a successful negotiation on a national contract would bring about the best outcome. Dr Flynn said “Negotiations stalled in…

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24
Mar 2015

Patients being ‘put at risk’ by untrained healthcare assistants

An investigation by the BBC has found that some healthcare assistants are working without proper supervision or training, and thereby putting patients ‘at risk’. Junior staff are being asked to insert IV drips and take blood samples, and hospital support workers say that they have been left on wards alone with up to 40 patients.…

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