Advice from Lawgistics: Review your contracts of employment

Date: Thursday 18 March 2021

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Legal helpline partner Lawgistics are reminding IAAF members, that the Good Work Plan, which was introduced on 6 April 2020, resulted in changes to employment law affecting all business sectors.

With the glimmer of hope of a return to normality, many businesses may be considering taking employees off furlough and asking them return to work. Some businesses may also be thriving and consequently considering recruiting new employees.

In either case, now is a good time to to ensure that the business is compliant with legislation, reflects its needs and that everything is uniform.

Previously, employers were required to provide new employees with a written statement of particulars within two months of employment. This statement must now be provided to all employees and workers on or before the first day of employment.

The written statement must now also include the following additional particulars:

• any terms relating to the days of the week the workers are required to work and whether hours or days of work may be variable and, if so, how they vary or how that variation is determined
• entitlements to any other paid leave
• any other benefits the company provides
• details of any probationary period, including any conditions and its duration
• any training provided, including any part of it that the employee is required to complete, and any other training that must be completed but which the company will not pay for.

New contracts of employment must comply with these requirements. Existing staff do not need to be issued with a new contract however, if an employee requests a written statement complying with the new requirements, the written statement must be provided within one month of the request.

The above changes should not be overlooked. If an employer fails to fulfil these obligations, an Employment Tribunal could penalise them for non-compliance.

As one of the benefits of membership, IAAF members can access Lawgistics award-winning HR Manager Lite software in order to create legally compliant contracts of employment.

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