Monthly Archives: August 2021

Hot Business News Today

Can I sack my employee for a racist tweet?

by  •  • 0 Comments

By Katie Maguire on Small Business – Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs

The recent online racist tweet abuse targeted at a trio of England players after their Euro 2020 final defeat brought into sharp focus the issue of whether an employee’s actions on social media can result in them being sacked.

While online racist bullies may claim they can say and do what they like in their own private lives, this isn’t necessarily the case. Where the online abuser can publicly be linked to working at a company, it will put that company under huge pressure to take disciplinary action against them.

This was the case when an employee from estate agency Savills levelled racist tweets at Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka. Savills suspended the employee and launched a swift investigation into the tweet. The employee has subsequently claimed his account was hacked and the matter is being investigated by the police.

>See also: Do I have to pay staff who are self-isolating?

But can the employee be sacked as a result of posting a racist tweet online? The simple answer is yes, but it is of course not that simple.

‘Sack an employee on the spot – even for

Read more...

Hot Business News Today

Interns and the law

by  •  • 0 Comments

By Andy Willis on Small Business – Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs
With so many graduates and young people out of work and recruitment slow to pick up, internships and work experience are a popular route for those looking for a foot in the door to their chosen career.
There are also significant benefits for smaller employers. Internships offer them a pool of talented new faces at a time when budgetary constraints mean they may be struggling to take on permanent staff.
However, while the benefits are clear, SMEs must be aware that from a legal standpoint interns can be considered either workers or employees. This means that they are often covered by the same employment legislation as the rest of the workforce, including the right to be paid National Minimum Wage (NMW). As failure to comply with NMW laws can lead to costly employment tribunal claims and hefty fines, it is crucial that businesses know where they stand before offering work experience or internships.
Is an intern a worker or an employee?
“Internship” is a general term that can result in varying employment relationships and, as a result, varying employment statuses. Depending on the way that an intern is treated,

Read more...