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What is the law on bringing dogs to work? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-07-04 14:36

What is the law on bringing dogs to work? We have a new manager starting who will be bringing his dog to work. The dog is a dangerous breed and half of us dont want such a dog in the building. What are our grounds for objection?

My employers want me to sign a new contract now I have passed my retirement age of 55. Do I have to sign this contract? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-06-30 17:55

I have an employment contract but my employers now want me to sign a new contract without consultation, since I went past my retirement age of 55 years old. I am still doing the exact same job. I think it is because they want me to retire. Do I have to sign this contract?

What should I be looking for in a compromise agreement? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-06-27 17:03

What should I be looking for in a compromise agreement? Since a restructure at work in 2005, I suffered from major depression for almost two years. Subsequently I received a poor year end appraisal despite good feedback from internal customers and I have appealed. My line manager has offered me a discussion with HR on a compromise agreement.

Can an employer discipline you for a comment made on a private web profile about a fellow employee during time off work? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-06-27 12:00

Can an employer discipline you for a comment made on a private web profile about a fellow employee to a select group of people during time off work? The comment was made in retaliation to verbal abuse and threats in the workplace.

One of my employees is unable to do his job due to a work related injury. I want to make him redundant but could I be sued? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-06-25 13:00

I run a small business with three employees. The business is not doing well so I will have to reduce my workload and make someone redundant. Unfortunately one of my employees injured himself at work and he is going to claim off my insurance. This employee still continues to come to work, although he is unable to do the job that he is he is contracted to do because of his injury, this inability is putting a tremendous strain on an already difficult situation, as the other workers are 'carrying' this individual. Consequently, this is the person I wish to make redundant. I need to know whether in these circumstance I could be sued for treating him unfairly. He is my longest serving team member and if he had not had this accident he would not have been selected for redundancy.

My male colleagues are being paid more than me for doing exactly the same job, where do I stand on this? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-06-24 17:36

I have worked for my employer for two years. During this time two male staff members were employed who do exactly the same job as myself but they are on a higher salary. The work that we do is exactly the same and there is nothing to differentiate between the roles that we do. Where do I stand on this and what steps do I take next?

My employer wants to reduce my basic salary and give me a guaranteed bonus. I do not agree with this, what can I do? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-06-24 12:41

My employer has told me he is going to reduce my basic salary from £30,000 p.a. to £18,000 p.a. and give me a guaranteed bonus of £1,000 per month for six months. I have been with my employer for eight months and I do not agree with this, what can I do?

Can I sack my employee in his probationary period as his performance is not up to scratch? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-06-21 18:41

I have an employee who is in his probationary period. It was initially for three months, but because he was not doing or could not do his job, despite numerous training sessions and meetings and discussions about his work, I told him that I wouldn't give him a permanent contract but would extend his probationary period for another three months. One month in and things have not improved at all. His work is appalling, he doesn't understand the business, is lazy and is late in every morning. His terms and conditions say that during the probationary period either party can decide it's not working out with only one weeks notice. What can I / can't I say to him and am I within my rights to sack him?

I am closing down one retail outlet whilst looking for a new outlet. Do my employees automatically become redundant because their place of work has closed down? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-06-13 13:12

I have a manufacturing/retail business with two retail outlets and a factory unit. If I close one outlet down due to the lease expiring but am in the process of finding another outlet within the same area, do the employees at that outlet automatically become redundant because their place of work has closed down?

One of my employees has sustained an injury at work as the result of horseplay. Where do we stand on this issue? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-06-11 12:28

I am an employer. One of my employees has sustained an injury as a result of horseplay and he is now seeking compensation. I am not sure that we have failed in our duty of care. The persons involved are constantly larking around and this is obviously by product of their actions. Where do we stand on this issue?

Can my employer cut my weekly hours from 25 to 16 without consulting me? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-06-11 11:50

I have worked for the same company for eight and a half years at 25 hours a week, 9.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. every day, but they have now given me four weeks notice for me to do 16 hours a week due to work being slow. This is a cut I cannot afford. My contract states that I do 25 hours a week and I would rather take redundancy but this has not been offered. Where do I stand?

My employers announced redundancies and used a point scoring basis to assess who should go. They will not tell us how our scores were calculated, can they do this? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-06-06 17:56

My employers announced they were going to be making redundancies and gave everyone in the organisation thirty days redundancy notice. They said they would then use a point scoring basis to assess who should go - those with the lowest points/those who don't meet the required points would be made redundant. Redundancies have now been made, but they will not tell us how our scores have been calculated or how the scores compare with those that are staying but do the same job. Can they do this?

Can a company put tracker devices in the vans without asking the drivers? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-06-06 13:22

Can a company put tracker devices in the vans without asking the drivers?

I am facing a disciplinary meeting as a result of a photo taken on a night out which was not work related. Can my employer do this? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-06-05 11:45

I went on a night out with fellow workers. Photos were taken at this night out and I am now being asked to attend a disciplinary meeting as a result of one of these photos. Is my employer allowed to do this as the event was not work related and was outside working hours?

My maternity leave has just finished, am I entitled to my holiday pay? Also, I believe I was discriminated against whilst pregnant, what are my rights? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-05-30 16:00

My maternity leave has just come to a end, am I entitled to my four weeks holiday pay? Also I was discriminated against whilst I was pregnant by my boss and his brother who was a employee also. I have not heard from him since starting my maternity leave and I have had no pay slips. What are my rights and where do I go from here?

I have a second job and pay tax and National Insurance, am I entitled to holiday pay? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-05-26 16:31

I have a second job and I pay tax and National Insurance but my employers will not pay me holiday pay. I have worked for them for a year. A previous employee has left and claimed holiday pay which they paid after receiving a legal letter but they still refuse to pay me. What are my rights?

I am in sales and have resigned from my present job to take up a job with a competitor. I have now been told that if I work for a competitor and target customers they will pursue legal action. Can they do this? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-05-23 13:19

I work in sales and have been offered the same role with a competitor working within the same geographic location. I have just resigned from my current role and today have been told that if I work for a competitor then they will track me down and pursue legal action. I have no record of signing any documentation pertaining to the above although there is a policy on their Intranet stating that if you work for a competitor and target their customers then a twelve month time span must elapse before contact is made. Is this legal?

I need to lay off two of my three staff. How objective do I need to be when selecting who to make redundant? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-05-20 17:53

I run a small firm and need to lay off two of my three admin staff. I know which one I would like to keep and am wondering how objective I have to be when selecting who to make redundant. I do not want to get a claim for unfair dismissal but there again I do not want to keep what I believe are unproductive staff.

I have handed my notice in to my workplace while suffering from depression. Is it possible to now retract my notice? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-05-19 17:50

I have handed my notice in to my workplace while suffering from depression. Is it possible to now retract my notice? I only gave my notice in yesterday.

One of my employees has taken more holiday than he has accrued and is now leaving. Can I withhold his final payment? — by Maria Mason — last modified 2008-05-19 17:44

Is it legal for me to withhold final payment to an employee who has taken more holiday in the current year than he has accrued? He has taken nineteen days but has only accrued nine. He is now owed wages for six days of work. The company does not operate with a formal written contract.