Irwin Mitchell | IM Educate Briefing | September 2023: News in brief

Nearly half of education staff have another job

According to research from the Centre for Economics and Business Research and Utility Warehouse, 45% of people who work in education have a second source of income. The reasons teachers gave for taking on additional jobs includes, responding to the cost of living crisis and a desire for financial freedom.

The report found that individuals can earn almost £10,000 a year through a ‘side hustle’ or second job to supplement their income.

Education sector particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks

A new survey looking at how prominent cyber attacks are in different industries has shown that the education sector is particularly vulnerable, with 78% from the sector reporting incidents.

The survey by Indusface of 2,200 respondents from 16 different industries found that 83% of the education sector don’t actively train their employees in cyber security — the third lowest percentage after transport (89%) and accommodation (97%).

Penalties for employing illegal workers increasing to £60,000

The Home Secretary has announced that fines under the ‘right to work scheme’ will triple from the start of 2024. The civil penalty for employers found to employ an illegal worker will raise from £15,000 up to £45,000 for a first breach and from £20,000 up to £60,000 for repeat breaches.

These measures are stated to be ‘the biggest shake up of civil penalties since 2014’, and ‘form part of the Home Office’s wider strategy to combat illegal migration to the UK’.

New toolkit to help employers manage staff absence

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) has published a new toolkit and updated guidance on how to manage and report staff absence.

It covers:

Checking holiday entitlement and sick pay
Fit notes and proof of sickness
Time of for dependants/parents
Returning to work after absence
Creating absence policies
Recording and reducing sickness absence
Absence trigger points.

Government announces new plans to reform paternity leave and pay to benefit fathers

The government recently published its response to the 2019 consultation on Parental Leave and Pay and has committed to making changes to encourage fathers to take a fuller role in caring for their infant children.

At the moment, those who are eligible for Paternity Leave and Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) can take one week or a single block of two weeks’ of paid leave. Both the leave and pay have to be taken in the first eight weeks following the birth of their child (or placement for adoption) and special rules apply in cases where the child is born prematurely.

The government will introduce secondary legislation to make the following changes:

To give fathers more flexibility, they will be able to take their two weeks of leave in two separate blocks.
Employed fathers will be able to use their Paternity Leave and SPP within a year of the child’s birth, rather than in the first eight weeks.

The government will not be making any changes to Shared Parental Leave or Unpaid Parental Leave.

New consultation on revised Code of Practice on flexible working

Acas has launched a consultation on a revised Code of Practice on handling flexible working requests to reflect changes due to come into force in 2024.

The consultation closed on Wednesday 6 September 2023.

New guidance to help employees enforce an unpaid tribunal or EAT award

HM Courts and Tribunals Service has issued an updated version of leaflet EX727, explaining how an unpaid employment tribunal or EAT award can be enforced using a High Court Enforcement Officer under the Acas and Employment Tribunal fast track, operated by Registry Trust Limited.

Increase in COVID-19 infections in wake of new variants

The number of people with COVID-19 in the UK is rising and new variants are emerging – including one which is causing significant community transmission. The government is bringing forward boosters for high risk groups (including those aged over 65) and frontline health workers, and plans are underway to restart surveillance.

There no COVID-19 restrictions in place, but government guidance advises people who have tested positive to stay at home. Those people with symptoms who haven’t taken a test are also advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until they no longer feel unwell. It recommends that both groups “avoid close contact with [anyone] who is at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell if they are infected with COVID-19 and other respiratory infections, especially those whose immune system means that they are at higher risk of serious illness, despite vaccination”.

Acas updates its COVID-19 guidance for employers

The revised guidance on coronavirus and work now covers:

What to do if an employee gets COVID-19
Self-isolation for COVID-19
Keeping everyone safe at work.

Acas has also reviewed its guidance for employees and employers on long COVID, including sickness absence because of long COVID, and whether long COVID is treated as a disability.

Previous guidance on getting the COVID vaccine, workplace testing for COVID and what to do if staff are worried about going to the workplace has been taken out.

Government publishes technical consultation on single-sex toilets

The government has published a technical consultation seeking views on proposals for the building regulations relating to the provision of toilets for men and women. The proposed changes will mean all new non-domestic public and private buildings, with some exceptions including schools, will be required to provide separate single-sex toilets for women and men and/or a self-contained, private toilet as a minimum.

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September 2023: News in Brief

Nearly half of education staff have another job

Education sector particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks

Penalties for employing illegal workers increasing to £60,000

New toolkit to help employers manage staff absence

Government announces new plans to reform paternity leave and pay to benefit fathers

New consultation on revised Code of Practice on flexible working

New guidance to help employees enforce an unpaid tribunal or EAT award

Increase in COVID-19 infections in wake of new variants

Acas updates its COVID-19 guidance for employers

Government publishes technical consultation on single-sex toilets

Read more – September 2023

For general enquiries

About Irwin Mitchell

Contact Us

Get a call back

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September 2023: News in Brief

Nearly half of education staff have another job

Education sector particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks

Penalties for employing illegal workers increasing to £60,000

New toolkit to help employers manage staff absence

Government announces new plans to reform paternity leave and pay to benefit fathers

New consultation on revised Code of Practice on flexible working

New guidance to help employees enforce an unpaid tribunal or EAT award

Increase in COVID-19 infections in wake of new variants

Acas updates its COVID-19 guidance for employers

Government publishes technical consultation on single-sex toilets

Read more – September 2023

For general enquiries

About Irwin Mitchell

Contact Us

Get a call back