For centuries, employees either did what their boss said, or lost their job. Over there years, laws were put in place to prevent this from happening and now the whole area of employment law is very complex. Some people believe they are weighted in favour of employees, but in reality, the rules and regulation are in place to protect workers and their employers. Here we delve a little further into the responsibilities of each, and what to do when a dispute occurs.
Employers Responsibilities
Becoming an employer brings a lot of legal responsibilities with it. They have to make sure the working environment is a safe place for their workers to be, and that they are all aware of the health and safety procedures for the business. Employers will also need to deduct tax and national insurance from their workers’ gross pay and hand it over to the taxman every month.
It is a legal requirement for bosses to have employer’s liability insurance in case a worker is injured at work, and the certificate should be displayed in a prominent place for all employees to see. Then there are rules regarding sickness, holidays, maternity and paternity leave and there should be disciplinary procedures in place in case they are needed.
These are not the only laws relating to being an employer by any means, as there are those relating to minimum wage and discrimination among others.
Employees Responsibilities
Employees have responsibilities too. They should complete their work to the best of their ability without putting themselves or anyone else in danger. If they are operating machinery, jewellery should not be worn and long hair should be safely tied back. The health and safety rules of the business should always be adhered to and if they spot any issues regarding this, they should report it to their employer immediately.
If anything affects their ability to drive or operate machinery, such as medication, they should tell their boss straight away. They should never go to work under the influence of drink or drugs as this would be considered gross misconduct.
What Happens When Things Go Wrong?
There are several avenues that can be taken if rules are broken and disputes occur, but the very first step should be getting reliable employment law legal advice. Don’t listen to friends and relatives who say they have been through something similar. No two situations are exactly the same and you need to speak to the experts about what has happened in your case.
If you think you have been targeted by your boss because of your age, colour, gender, a disability or any other reason, speaking to experts could clarify if you have a case against them, or they may be able to help you resolve the issues without it going that far.
Sometimes, mediation can help, but if the situation requires an Employment Tribunal, you need to be certain that you will be properly represented. As with all legal matters, people who try to represent themselves are less likely to win their case. If you have reason to take your boss to a tribunal, you may be awarded compensation. You could also prevent your workmates being treated in the same way.
