HR Updates
Managing stress: tips and advice from Ben
Date: Thursday 28 April 2022
Ben's recent health & wellbeing survey showed that stress is the most common issue affecting automotive people. Not only that, the survey also highlighted that stress at work is higher for automot…
Advice from Lawgistics: Pandemic impact on annual leave entitlement
Date: Thursday 28 April 2022
The change in March 2020 allowed for four weeks of annual leave to be carried over. So, as a reminder, any carried over leave must be used in 2022! In previous legal updates, Lawgistics have advised a…
COVID-19 restrictions are being replaced by public health advice
Date: Wednesday 13 April 2022
COVID-19 will remain a public health issue and guidance for workplaces is being replaced with public health advice. You can check the latest position and timescales for the nation you are working in: …
PPE at work regulations have changed
Date: Monday 11 April 2022
The new Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (PPER 2022) have now come into force. They amend the 1992 Regulations (PPER 1992). Under PPER 2022, the types of duties and r…
Overcoming the current talent crises with the right technology
Date: Thursday 07 April 2022
Like many industries, the independent automotive aftermarket industry has faced a growing talent shortage that is compounding year-on-year, with an ageing workforce and tight supply of younger skilled…
Advice from Lawgistics: The current legislation regarding pre-employment checks on foreign recruits is due to change from 6 April 2022
Date: Thursday 31 March 2022
The IAAF's legal helpline provider, Lawgistics, have highlighted upcoming changes to the legislation on pre-employment checks on foreign recruits. As an employer, you are obligated to ensure you only …
Having trouble sleeping? advice and support from Ben
Date: Wednesday 23 March 2022
If you’re struggling with sleep, it would seem you’re not the only one! According to Ben's recent health and wellbeing survey, 1 in 2 automotive people have been affected by poor sleep. It’s recommend…
Health and Social Care – National Insurance contribution uplift
Date: Monday 28 February 2022
HMRC is requesting the assistance of businesses to help employees understand that the increased National Insurance contribution of 1.25 percentage points from 6 April 2022 is helping fund the NHS, hea…
Worried about the rising cost of living? Some advice and support from Ben
Date: Monday 28 February 2022
Worrying about money has probably affected us all at one time or another, but with living costs rising at their fastest rate for 30 years it’s affecting more people than ever right now. Whether that's…
Living with covid strategy published
Date: Wednesday 23 February 2022
The Prime Minister has now announced the new ‘Living with covid’ strategy. The government aims to manage COVID-19 like other respiratory illnesses, and will remove most domestic restrictions in Englan…
Final claims for the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme
Date: Wednesday 23 February 2022
The Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme will close on 17 March 2022. Businesses have until 24 March 2022 to submit any new claims for absence periods up to 17 March 2022, or to amend claims already submi…
New HMRC Advisory Fuel Rates from 1 March 2022 published
Date: Monday 21 February 2022
HMRC has published new Advisory Fuel Rates (AFRs) effective from Tuesday (March 1) for company car drivers claiming back fuel costs from their employer. Petrol and diesel pence per mile (PPM) rates fo…
“Automotive aftermarket experiencing unprecedented levels of new roles” says Glen Callum Associates
Date: Friday 18 February 2022
Glen Callum Associates (GCA) is enjoying the increased number of job roles that follow a downturn but is warning that the boom from the pandemic doesn’t come without challenges for companies looking t…
Make sure you are working safely with display screen equipment
Date: Friday 18 February 2022
All employers must protect workers from the health risks of working with display screen equipment (DSE). The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidance featuring a step-by-step guide to wor…
Support from HMRC: SSP
Date: Friday 21 January 2022
HMRC has recently advised that the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate (SSPR) service is now open. Your business could be eligible for support if you employed fewer than 250 employees on 30 November 2021, and y…
Covid restrictions lifted in England
Date: Friday 21 January 2022
The Prime Minister has announced that plan B restrictions are to be lifted in England. With immediate effect, the government is no longer requiring people to work from home if they can. Employers shou…
Ben launches self-referral to free Life Coaching service for automotive community
Date: Tuesday 18 January 2022
While yesterday may have been Blue Monday, Ben, the automotive industry charity, has announced news to brighten the day of those wishing to kick start the new year! Ben is proud to announce that it is…
COVID-19 and the workplace FAQs
Date: Tuesday 18 January 2022
The rules regarding COVID-19 can be confusing for many, particularly with new rules being announced regularly, so Lawgistics have provided a list of answers to some frequently asked questions regardin…
Managing home workers’ Health and Safety: advice from Lawgistics
Date: Tuesday 18 January 2022
The Government has again said that (where possible) people should work from home. Consequently, the HSE have again reminded us that Employers have the same health and safety responsibilities for those…
Ben launches new website to improve support for automotive community
Date: Thursday 13 January 2022
Ben, the automotive industry charity, is proud to announce the launch of its new website for 2022 – www.ben.org.uk - designed to offer quick and easy access to essential self-help tools and resources …
A Christmas party – It’s all fun and games until…
Date: Thursday 09 December 2021
Christmas work parties – they can be either eventful… or not. But, the Scrooge at Christmas needs to remind you there is still a risk of vicarious liability at any work social event. Lawgistics, the …
HSE spot checks – business support on work-related stress
Date: Thursday 09 December 2021
Questions on work-related stress form part of HSE’s COVID spot check programme as they support businesses to work safely. The spot check programme ensures business are working safely and continuing to…
Automotive charity Ben announces partnership with wellbeing experts Wellonomics
Date: Thursday 02 December 2021
Past and present automotive industry workers will be given expert help to tackle everyday issues such as poor sleep, low mood and job worries through a digital platform specially developed to support …
Legal Update: COVID-19 Employment Tribunals
Date: Thursday 25 November 2021
Lawgistics, the IAAF's legal helpline provider, has highlighted two contrasting cases which have been brought to an employment tribunal in respect of concerns about COVID-19. There are now a number of…
UK confirms pledge for zero-emission HGVs by 2040 and unveils new chargepoint design
Date: Friday 12 November 2021
All new heavy goods vehicles in the UK will be zero-emission by 2040, the UK government has confirmed. This, combined with the UK’s 2030 phase out for petrol and diesel cars and vans, represents a wor…
Farewell to furlough
Date: Friday 01 October 2021
The IAAF's legal helpline provider, Lawgistics, have produced some guiddance for employers on their responsibilities following the end of the furlough scheme on 30th September 2021. An employer is abl…
Ben launches new SilverCloud programmes for younger people
Date: Thursday 30 September 2021
Automotive charity Ben is launching a new range of programmes on SilverCloud, its digital mental health and wellbeing platform, that are specially tailored to help younger automotive people aged 16 ye…
Millions to be empowered by government plans to strengthen day-one employment rights and increase productivity of businesses
Date: Friday 24 September 2021
Every employee in Great Britain will be given the right to request flexible working – regardless of time served – under government plans to modernise the way we work. Under the plans – delivering on a…
Government's Covid Response: Autumn and Winter Plan 2021
Date: Thursday 16 September 2021
The Prime Minister has now set out the government’s plan to manage Covid throughout autumn and winter of 2021. Ventilation is an important and effective mitigation to stop the spread of Covid, and bus…
Tax changes for Health and Social Care
Date: Friday 10 September 2021
The government has recently announced tax changes to fund £12 billion a year to be spent on the NHS and social care across the UK. National Insurance contributions (NICs) will increase by 1.25% for on…
Changes to self-isolation rules and increasing vaccine take-up
Date: Thursday 19 August 2021
From Monday 16 August, people who have received two doses of a covid vaccine or who are aged under 18 are now no longer legally required to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of a …
Additional bank holiday for 2022
Date: Thursday 05 August 2021
Lawgistics have recently issued a reminder about the extra public holiday on 3rd June 2022 which will result in a four-day bank holiday weekend to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The Spring Bank Ho…
Ben's Big Breakfast
Date: Thursday 05 August 2021
Don’t miss out on a slice of the action 🍞 - join Ben between 4th-10th October to celebrate Ben’s Big Breakfast, the most important meal of the day! Ben is cereally 🥣 eggcited 🥚 about bacon 🥓 a dif…
Working from home or away – benefits explained
Date: Friday 30 July 2021
For businesses that have employees working from home or from more than one workplace, HMRC are running live webinars which will give more information on paying expenses and providing benefits in kind.…
New posters for businesses to display to remind staff and customers of continuing covid actions
Date: Friday 30 July 2021
Now that the government has lifted all restrictions under step 4 of the roadmap, businesses are being reminded to remove any outdated covid-secure posters they may still have on display. Updated workp…
New Working Safely guidance has now been published
Date: Thursday 22 July 2021
To support businesses and the self-employed to continue to work safely during the pandemic as England moves to Step 4, the Government has published updated Working Safely guidance. The guidance cover …
Changes to right to work checks from 1 July
Date: Thursday 22 July 2021
Following the deadline for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme, the process for completing right-to-work checks on EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens has now changed. Employers can no longer accept EU p…
CJRS Update
Date: Thursday 22 July 2021
Business are reminded that CJRS claims for July can now be submitted and must be made by Monday 16 August. Employers can claim 70% of furloughed employees' usual wages for the hours not worked, up to …
Tips from Ben on how to manage your money
Date: Thursday 15 July 2021
Each year, Ben supports many people who are struggling to make ends meet. In fact, money worries are one of the biggest reasons why people ask for help. To help, they've created a money section on the…
Quarantine-free travel to resume on 19 July for fully vaccinated passengers returning from amber list countries
Date: Friday 09 July 2021
On 8 July 2021, the government set out the details to enable people who have been fully vaccinated with an NHS administered vaccine, plus 14 days, to travel to amber list countries without having to q…
Lawgistics Update: jury service
Date: Thursday 08 July 2021
The jury service process can be unpredictable and may cause an interruption to the business, so Lawgistics have offered advice on what to do if an employee advises that they have been summoned for jur…
Changes to the CJRS from this month
Date: Thursday 08 July 2021
For July, the UK Government will now be paying 70% of employees' usual wages for hours not worked, up to a cap of £2,187.50. In August and September, this reduces to 60% of employees' usual wages up t…
Four million drivers asleep at the wheel
Date: Friday 18 June 2021
A staggering four million drivers have fallen asleep behind the wheel, according to new research by IAM RoadSmart. The research also found that one in 10 of those surveyed admitted to closing their ey…
Ben focus on Men's Health Week
Date: Thursday 10 June 2021
Men’s Health Week takes place next week, and this year Ben is focussing on prostate cancer. With 1 in 8 men diagnosed with prostate cancer, they are sharing some information on what prostate cancer is…
HSE COVID-19 spot checks and inspections update
Date: Thursday 27 May 2021
The Variant of Concern first identified in India has been found in small clusters around the UK. In response, the government is working with relevant local councils on surge testing, and to support th…
Updated furlough agreement template from Lawgistics
Date: Thursday 27 May 2021
The requirement from HMRC is that the employer should have had a PAYE payroll scheme in place on or before 2 March 2021 in order to be able to claim from May 2021 onwards. Following on from Lawgistics…
Long COVID can render employees from being unable to work for months
Date: Thursday 27 May 2021
Lawgistics have recently issued guidance information for employers where they are advised to deal with Long COVID issues in the same way as any other medical condition. Concerns have been raised regar…
Online deliveries drive demand for van turbos
Date: Thursday 20 May 2021
Melett, the leading supplier of precision engineered turbochargers and parts, has continued to develop its OE-quality LCV turbocharger range with the introduction of eight new units, suitable for a va…
Ben launches Move4Ben
Date: Thursday 06 May 2021
Following the huge success of Breakout for Ben in February, Ben is excited to launch Move4Ben taking place throughout June - and people can sign up in just a few simple steps! Sign up here Ben is aski…
Ben offers advice on building resilience
Date: Wednesday 21 April 2021
Lockdown has been difficult for many of us, for lots of different reasons. In full lockdown things might have felt more certain or predictable, as the rules were clearer. But now that lockdown restric…
