Member News

“I had no idea how profound an impact music therapy has on people and the sound cradle is an incredible, stunning piece of kit” – cyclist Steve has a special reason for using pedal power to support EACH A super-fit fundraiser is gearing up for an epic summer of cycling to support the children’s hospice where his partner works. Steve Swindon completed the RideLondon 100-mile event on 28^th May and has four more gruelling dates in his diary, starting with this weekend’s 200-mile Round Norfolk Epic. After another two monster challenges, he plans to finish by riding between the three East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) bases in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Steve has a special connection with EACH as partner Jane Rous-Milligan is a Music Therapist there. He hopes to raise £4,000 to buy a sound cradle – a unique and beautiful musical instrument made from carefully selected layers of beech and birch veneer, precisely bonded together to create a semi-circular cradle shape – for the charity’s hospice in Milton. It already has one at The Nook, where Jane works, but not at its Cambridgeshire hospice. The cradle can be laid, stood vertically to provide a ‘sound shower’ or turned upside down like a dome. On each side are 18 strings, which are tuned to a monochord. When played, they resonate the entire instrument – a resonance felt intensely throughout the body, providing a sense of safety and containment. “Jane has told me all about the power of music therapy,” said Steve, who lives in Holt. “It’s not something I knew much about before but now, thanks to her, I have much more understanding. “I had no idea how profound an impact it has on people and the sound cradle is an incredible, stunning piece of kit. “Jane has been using it for two years and loves how versatile and inclusive it is, allowing a child to enjoy the experience but also allowing two people to enjoy being together – for instance a parent and child laying together in a warm ‘sound hug’. “The sound is calming and accessible to everyone, making it a holistic experience embracing both physical and emotional feelings.” Having already completed the RideLondon 100-mile event, Steve, 61, continues his fundraising mission with the Round Norfolk Epic on Sunday (11^th June). An eye-watering ride of 200 miles in a day around the border of Norfolk, he did it in 2021 in just under 16 hours and raised over £2,000. This time around he hopes to break 15 hours. Next Saturday (17^th June) he is taking on the Iceni Audax 200km, starting at Stoke Holy Cross before traversing the Suffolk border, heading West toward Breckland and then winding through rural Norfolk and along the North Norfolk coast. Next up, on the first weekend in July (1^st and 2^nd), is the 120-mile Dunwich Dynamo – an overnight ride starting in east London on the Saturday evening and finishing on Dunwich Beach on Sunday morning. Steve’s final mission is taking place on Saturday, 23^rd September when he plans to cycle to all three EACH hospices. Starting at The Nook, he will head to The Treehouse, in Ipswich, to Milton and then back to Norfolk. “This one is approximately 180 miles,” he said. “I’m hoping to be joined by friends for all or part of the journey and it’s the big one, as far as I’m concerned, where I hope to raise the most funds. “I’ve picked this date as it’s the Saturday of EACH’s Ride for Life event, which is a fantastic fundraiser. It’ll be great to see some fellow cyclists out on the road. “I’ll also be doing some solo and group training rides on the other weekends. “There are a few other events I’m considering but haven’t signed up for yet. “These include the Black Shuck Sportive 100-miler, starting from Thursford, on 6^th August. “I’m also considering the Tour de Broads, another 100-mile event starting from Little Plumstead, on 20^th August, and Insanity Sportive, which is 150 miles, starting from Whitlingham on 17^th September.” Steve, who runs his own ecommerce company, is no stranger to raising funds. As well as his previous efforts for EACH, he raised thousands for the Shooting Star Children’s Hospice, which supports families in Surrey and West London. This was mainly from running four marathons on consecutive weekends in 2016, raising £8,500. He also cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats last year to raise funds for the East Anglian Air Ambulance. To sponsor Steve, click here. To find out more and sign up for EACH’s Ride for Life event, click here. Image credit: EACH

Mark and Becky believe that success is a collective effort, and if you identify as a self-made entrepreneur or business owner, then maybe you need to think again. Do you have the soft skills needed to be a great leader? How much of your work is really done just by you? They provide some inspiration on how teamwork can make the dream work. Mark loved explaining how Einstein wasn’t great at making sandwiches this week! He didn’t grow the wheat, didn’t knead the dough, so did he really make a sandwich? The point being none of us really ever make it on our own. We’re all reliant on so many factors around us that help guide, support and ultimately achieve our success. They challenge the listener to think about whether they lean into their technical capabilities, as it’s easy to hide behind expertise, but to think about how many ‘soft-skills’ they could honestly claim to be expert in. Richard Branson can’t build a plane after all, he motivates, leads and inspires others to do it for him! GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk. We would also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us! You can also now watch us on YouTube! Click here Show notes Mark mentions Adnams – listen to their COO Karen Hester chatting to Chris Scargill on Tourism Business Chat about her journey from part time cleaner to one of the industry’s biggest success stories Aubrey Marcus podcast Listen here! Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk © Larking Gowen LLP

Wingfield Consultants have been nominated for a South Norfolk Community Award! This award recognises the contribution of volunteers and organisations in the local area. Simon Wingfield, Founder of Wingfield Consultants, said: ‘We are thrilled to have been nominated for this award. Our pro bono work with the Norfolk Community Foundation Norfolk Community Foundation | Together, Norfolk shines brighter (norfolkfoundation.com) via the ProHelp scheme Norfolk ProHelp | Norfolk Community Foundation (norfolkfoundation.com), Youth Pledge Youth Pledge – New Anglia, and icanbea.. https://www.icanbea.org.uk/app/explore/organisations/wingfield-consultants-1032/ has been recognised and fits one of the consultancy’s core values of wanting to ‘empower people with the support we provide’.

Volunteering and charity work are valuable and often overlooked tools. Voluntary Norfolk discuss how businesses can utilize volunteering through CSR packages to build teamwork and create a healthy and more profitable work environment. This week, Mark and Becky connect with a local Norfolk organisation, whose insights have global relevance – why businesses should embrace a strong Corporate social responsibility (CSR) package. (And we find out who Mark’s favourite Womble is!) Voluntary Norfolk connects businesses and charitable organisations, to help businesses meet their community objectives. In previous episodes, Mark and Becky have discussed the change in what younger generations are expecting from employers, and how they now look beyond just salary in job searches. CSR forms a huge part of most company employment packages and is a key part of Employer Brand, our guests this week discuss why volunteering initiatives are a popular offering, and the benefits they bring to the employee, as well as the business. Laura is a Volunteer Coordinator, supporting organisations and matching them to volunteers, and Nicola is a HR Consultant at CBR Business Solutions, who works as a consultant to SME businesses and voluntary social enterprises. They discuss the opportunities available to people who have had career breaks and are perhaps lacking in confidence and up to date skills, the changes lockdown brought, and they identify the mental health impact that strong CSR packages are proven to bring to the employee, and how this in turn helps to cultivate a healthy and more profitable work environment. They also discuss how hesitant business owners should see volunteering as an opportunity to identify skills in their teams that they were not aware of, and how neutral environments not based on ‘a night out’ can embolden teamwork and unity, all things that are good for business! Listen to the podcast here GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk. We would also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us! You can also now watch us on YouTube! Click here

Instagram has joined the 21st century, TikTok could be in trouble but continues to boost funds for creators, LinkedIn launches tools to help you create, Meta is making things easier for creators, and Twitter starts driving video. Instagram GIF lovers rejoice! You can now post GIFs in the comments. Does this mean anything? Twitter Twitter Blue subscribers can now upload videos up to 2 hours long. Because nobody uses YouTube? Continuing the video news, non-blue users can now change playback speeds on videos within the app. Coming up over the next few weeks are picture-in-picture playback so you can scroll while you play, automated transcripts of video content, a dedicated video tab, and download options. A recent study showed some interesting stats including 25% of Twitter users don’t expect to be using the platform in 12 months time, 60% have taken a break in the last year, and the top 20% of Tweeters are posting 25% less. Hmmmm, the Musk effect? What does it all mean? Facebook/Meta New lead generation tools for Facebook to make it easier for users to claim an advertised offer in-stream plus dynamic question flows, and overlaying feedback forms on your website direct from Facebook. Meta verified has landed in the UK. It comes without the increased reach US users initially saw but with direct account support (which is worth it in itself!), proactive account protection, and exclusive stickers. Meta is getting rid of Kustomer, the customer service platform it was going to be integrating into DMs and WhatsApp. The social media giant has added new resources to the Professional Dashboard, including educational topics to help you grow your audience rather than referring you to Meta Blueprint. Yeah, so what? TikTok Is a full US ban of TikTok coming? Montana has officially banned the app. Which is less than great news for them and many businesses who rely on it. In other news, TikTok has announced a $6 million fund for creators in France, Brazil, or the US with 10,000 followers or more and a minimum of 100,000 views in the last 30 days. A good example of how much they value their creators. May is Mental Health Awareness month and TikTok has announced a range of initiatives including in-app access for those who need it. Why should I care? LinkedIn If you’ve switched over to Creator Mode, you’ll find a bunch of new tools to help make it easier for you to manage your content in the app. The most exciting part of this is Post Ideas. What is the meaning of this?!

Fluctuations in demand and volume are creating challenges in the logistics and supply chain management sector, as providers feel the pressure of changing customer behaviour, a squeeze on pricing, and increasing customer service levels. According to a poll of logistics industry leaders, 82% of respondents said that changing levels of demand or volume was the biggest challenge facing their business at the moment. The poll, conducted as part of a national series of events jointly hosted by accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP and Barclays Corporate Banking, found that more than a quarter (29%) ranked customer pricing pressure as their greatest concern, with customers’ changing service level expectations (24%) also making the top three – above the likes of fuel and energy costs, disruption in the supply chain, and staff shortages and costs. In response to the challenges, more than half of the respondents (59%) said that, in a bid to support business growth, they intend to focus investment on technology that will drive efficiencies, with 53% admitting that they plan to add to their existing customer base by entering new end markets, both domestically and internationally. The poll also confirmed the growing prominence of technology in the logistics and supply chain management industry. In the next five years, 59% of the attendees believed there will be a wider use of technology in supply chain processes, such as AI and big data, with more automation being introduced business wide, including warehouse automation, autonomous vehicles, 3D printing, and the increasing use of drones. Jason Whitworth, M&A partner at BDO LLP, said: “Technology is playing a vital role in a rapidly evolving logistics and supply chain management sector, with rapid change expected over the next five years. The role of technology is not only influencing how businesses are operating, but it’s also shaping decisions being made by investors, who are increasingly being attracted by those businesses willing to push boundaries and innovate in response to a changing market.” James Lean, Industry Director, Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics at Barclays Corporate Banking, added: “Capital expenditure remains a key and somewhat unavoidable priority for the sector despite volatility in volumes, with a majority of clients anticipating significant spend on driving even more efficient service models, quenching the customer thirst for data and adopting emerging ESG-related technologies. Many eyes within the sector will be keenly focussed on seeing how operators get on with their trials of larger 7.5 to 19 ton electric trucks, HVO diesel and potentially hydrogen fuel cells.” The poll follows the publication of BDO’s the ‘UK & Ireland M&A Update – Q1 2023’. It shows that deal activity in the UK logistics and supply chain management sector got off to a ‘slow start’ in 2023, with deal volume and value falling sharply in the first quarter of the year. Transaction volumes dropped by more than a quarter between January and March 2023, compared to the previous quarter, with 13 deals completed (17 in Q4 2023) at a total disclosed deal value of just over £70 million – as compared to £378 million for the previous three months. According to the latest report, in the first quarter of the year, 38% of deals were cross-border. This compares to 60% in Q4 2023. Private equity investment was also lower in Q1, with one transaction involving direct PE investment; however, three acquisitions were completed by PE-backed businesses, demonstrating the continued influence of private equity in the sector. Whitworth said: “It’s fair to say that deal activity got off to a slow start in 2023. The sharp fall in deal volume and, more significantly, in value in Q1, no doubt reflects the changing outlook, given the economic dynamics the sector faced as it entered 2023. “It is reassuring to see that appetite from buyers and investors remains high, despite current caution over the delivery of future earnings which has made completing deals more challenging at this time. I would anticipate a pick-up in activity as the market stabilises and there is more consistency in pricing and earnings expectations” Prominent Q1 deals included Janssen Distribution Services’ acquisition of Norman Global Logistics; the sale of Absolutely Courier to DPD UK; and the sale of Hollyport Logistics to international freight forwarders, Spatial Global. Image: Jason Whitworth, provided by BDO LLP

A decade on the hills to support those who served And that’s a wrap on the Cumbrian Challenge 2023. Our biggest yet and what an event it was. 193 teams. 725 participants. 1 goal.  To challenge themselves to make a difference to the veterans and their loved ones that we support. Conditions were not kind to our participants. Although a lovely clear day, it was a brutally hot course which made conditions extremely tough and we did pick up a few injuries along the way. The Cumbrian Challenge is our headline event at Walking With The Wounded and we are blessed to have had such fantastic support over the past 10 years the challenge has run. This year was absolutely no exception and a massive thank you to our key sponsors, FDM, BAE Systems, Gasway, Sunbelt Rentals and Newcastle Building Society who contributed a mighty £47,500 in sponsorship to help us run the event. Of course, with all such events, the fundraising is what enables us to do what we do at WWTW and everyone involved this year has exceeded expectations with particular shout outs to: Gasway, who’s 13 teams have so fair raised £37,894.86, in addition to their headline sponsorship of £10,000! Sopra Steria, who not only increased their team total from 8 last year to 20 this year but have also raised £26,189.04 DXC, who smashed past last years team total, going from 6 to a barely believable 31 and raising £48,478 All in all we are currently at £300,000 and still going! Unbelievable and what an achievement. Everyone that took part should be immensely proud of themselves.  The dust hasn’t yet settled on this event and already our thoughts turn to next year. It’ll be big. It’ll be bold. It’ll make a difference again. See you there: https://cumbrian-challenge.walkingwiththewounded.org.uk/2024-pre-register Images provided by Walking With The Wounded

Welcome to the Keyboards 4 Kids initiative If you are reading this, you could be a business owner, employee, teacher, headteacher, entrepreneur, educator, civil servant, accountant, lawyer, homemaker, builder, doctor, nurse, plumber…come to think of it, any company or organisation principle who works with computers. Although all are  different, there is most likely one common thread we all share, hope for a bright and rewarding future for children from all walks of life. Our future is a digital one and we believe that all Kids must have access to the number one tool that we are all reliant on, in some shape or form, and that’s a computer. Suppose tomorrow’s generation has reduced access or, worse, no access to this critical equipment during the formative years of education. How will they succeed in the digital world in the future? Keyboards 4 Kids has a solution. As we embrace innovation and the frantic race to make use of the latest technology, little thought is given to what yesterday’s computers could contribute to the development of tomorrow. Keyboards 4 Kids is committed to reduce significant landfill waste by giving these computers a second life in the hands of the next generation. How it works Step 1 – Donate Complete the form below to donate your businesses’ old laptops or desktop computers. Step 2 – Refurbish We will refurbish those donated computers and get them up to speed, ready to be donated. Step 3 – Distribution We will deliver the equipment directly to the school. The school will then be responsible for distributing them to the students. What Kind of Computer? We accept all kinds of computers that meet our specs, still functioning and are in usable condition. Wear and tear is no problem for us. What do we mean by Refurbish? We will review the computer and make sure it can work for the childrens’ needs. We will also securely wipe all of your data as part of the process. Can I suggest a School? Yes, please do. We are always on the lookout for introductions to schools or businesses that may want to donate additional computers. Image provided by Chambers Canva Pro 2023  

Regional Insurance Broker and Financial Planners Alan Boswell Group has been awarded Insurance Broker of the Year in the Finance Monthly Insurance Awards, which were announced at the end of last year.

Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers was founded by Alan Boswell in 1982, providing commercial and personal insurance to clients throughout Norfolk. It has now expanded to offer financial planning and risk management services, and has eight offices throughout East Anglia, Cambridgeshire, and Lincolnshire.  

The Group has expanded through a mixture of organic growth and local acquisitions, including the purchase of Cambridge based broker S-Tech in 2016, and now has 380+ staff, over 70,000 clients, insurance premiums of £120m and funds under management of £1bn. They remain privately owned and independent, rare in the industry these days.  

Last year saw the acquisition of ARW Wealth Management, while grants made by the Alan Boswell Group Charitable Trust, which was set up in 2019, exceeded £1.5m. 

Alan Boswell, Executive Chairman, said “We’ve taken a less-trodden route to growth, preferring to focus on client needs and ensuring our service levels remain high. It’s a simple mantra; keep our customers happy so they stay with us and add a few new customers each year. 

“I’m really pleased that we’ve been recognised with this award following a great year for the business. We look forward to seeing where the next 40 years takes us.” 

2023 will see work on the head office in Norwich commence to increase floorspace, while a refit of the Cambridge Office will see S-Tech rebranded to Alan Boswell Group, strengthening the commitment to the city.

Image provided by Alan Boswell Group of their head office

Volunteers have been hailed for their “dedication, loyalty, passion and commitment” at the start of a celebration week thanking them for their invaluable contribution. East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) Chief Executive Phil Gormley was speaking at the beginning of the 39^th annual Volunteers’ Week, which gets underway today and runs until next Wednesday (7^th June). It is a chance to recognise the contribution people make within their communities and is supported by small, grassroots organisations as well as larger, household-name charities. EACH is no different and blessed with an army of nearly 2,000 volunteers, all of whom give their time to help the charity continue its vital work supporting families and caring for children and young people with life-threatening conditions. “Our extraordinary volunteers inspire me every day,” said Phil. “Their dedication, loyalty, passion and commitment is unstinting and they remain at the heart of everything we do. “That’s why Volunteers’ Week is so important on our calendar because it gives us a chance to pause, celebrate and say a heartfelt thank you. “Their support, time and effort is vital and hugely appreciated and we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without them. Together, we can make a difference.” EACH volunteers lend their time in a variety of ways, from supporting the Retail and Fundraising teams to lending a hand at one of its three hospices and signing up for its Help at Home service. They range in age and come from a variety of backgrounds, with differing skillsets. “Some have been volunteering for years and others have joined more recently,” added Phil. “Collectively, it’s hard to overstate their incredible impact and such diversity is a real strength. “Of course, we can always do with extra help and I’d wholeheartedly encourage anyone to step forward and join us. “It’s worth stressing that there’s more than one way to volunteer. “There are lots of things people can do, to suit their interests, and it’s a way to gain valuable new skills and experiences, as well as boosting confidence. “It doesn’t matter if you can only offer a couple of hours a week or even fortnight. A little help makes a big difference.” Anyone interesting in joining the team and finding out more can email volunteerservices@each.org.uk or click here. EACH has hospices in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, in addition to 47 Retail shops in the heart of communities across East Anglia. Image Credits EACH – Left to right, CEO Phil Gormley, Fundraising Volunteer, Fundraising Volunteers, Help at Home gardening volunteer, Retail volunteer, Retail volunteers

Last updated: 7th February 2023 at 10:04am Many organisations across the UK rely on unpaid labour in the form of interns each year. Gaining experience in a relevant field, making industry contacts or even securing a job could be invaluable to their future career. So where is the issue if both parties are benefiting from the arrangement? What is an internship? An internship is a form of work experience, often undertaken by university students or graduates. The length and arrangements for internships vary greatly and there is no formal definition of an ‘intern’ under UK law. Whether an intern is entitled to be paid for their work, and gains other employment-related rights, will depend on how the relationship is managed. Ethical considerations Values led organisations may want to consider whether it is ethical to have individuals working in their business with no pay. Whilst some employers may feel that the non-financial benefits of completing the internship far outweigh this, the 2017 Taylor Review boldly described unpaid internships as an “abuse of power by employers and extremely damaging to social mobility”. Following the Taylor Review, the government set out guidance to make the position and rights of interns clearer. Students that can fully commit to their internship will achieve better results for your business. If the internship is unpaid, that student will realistically have to juggle a part time job or incur debt because unless they are financially supported, students will still need to find a way to pay their bills. This may result in a restriction to the pool of talent that can take part in your internship, directly in conflict with many organisations equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategies. National Minimum Wage In the UK, all workers above compulsory school age must be paid the national minimum wage (NMW) for their age. Further information about the NMW can be found in our blog. How the relationship is set up and how the employer and intern interact will determine whether the intern is a worker, simply calling them a volunteer or unpaid does not create an exemption from the duty to pay NMW:

• Where they are only shadowing and not carrying out work, they will not be a worker and will not be entitled to the NMW.
• If they are working on a genuinely voluntary basis and do not receive any financial reward or benefit in kind for the work they perform, they will likely not be a worker and therefore not be entitled to the NMW.
• If they are carrying out work and the employer exerts some control over the way that they perform their work (for example, a requirement to work set hours or days), it is likely that they will be a worker and entitled to the NMW.

Failing to correctly pay NMW can result in an employment tribunal and significant fine by HMRC in addition to the potential for bad publicity. Working Time Interns are usually university students and therefore over the age of 18. However, if you do create opportunities for younger interns, ensure that the adjusted requirements of the Working Time Directive are incorporated. The adjustments include a shorter working patterns and longer breaks. Find out more about working time here. How to get it right On balance, organisations may consider offering paid internships makes better business sense. Paid internships have the potential to be more mutually rewarding to both parties and will help remove the barrier of social mobility from an EDI perspective. If you are thinking of creating internship opportunities, take a moment to consider the purpose, how it will work in reality and therefore whether NMW will apply. Our expert HR consultants can support you with this. This text was originally written by MAD-HR Ltd. Copyright © 2023 MAD-HR Ltd. All rights reserved: https://www.mad-hr.co.uk/blog/summer-internships-and-experience-is-it-ever-possible-to-employ-temporary-young-staff-legally-and-ethically Image provided by MAD-HR

Last updated: 25th March 2023 at 22:04pm 2023 is shaping up to be one of the busiest years for employment law in a while, with significant changes proposed to existing pieces of legislation, as well as new legal requirements likely to come into force during the year. This is challenging news for business owners and managers but have no fear: the HR Consultants at MAD-HR are doing the hard work on your behalf and trawling through the detail for you. So, here’s the summary version of what we can expect to become law this year: 1. Brexit Freedoms Bill The snappily titled “Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill” (known to its friends as the “Brexit Freedoms Bill”) proposes to remove, amend or replace all legislation which came to the UK originally from the EU. Key areas covered include:

• The Working Time Directive
• The Agency workers regulations
• Statutory Holiday Entitlement
• GDPR
• Part time Workers’ Regulations and
• Fixed Term Workers Regulations

These are just some of the c.2,400 pieces of legislation likely to be affected. Any EU-derived law not already amended, appealed or replaced or by 31st December 2023 will simply cease to apply in the UK. On that basis, the government has its work cut out trying to have the new legislation in place by the deadline. So, what does this mean for my business? As yet, we don’t have the full detail on any proposed changes, but MAD-HR will be providing regular updates via our website as the picture becomes clearer – watch this space! 2. Family Friendly – new laws Several Bills are currently going through Parliament relating to rights for employees with family-related responsibilities. These include:

• Carer’s leave – this will allow employees with caring responsibilities (e.g. those with elderly or disabled relatives) to take a week of unpaid leave per year. The right would be for any employee from day one of employment. This is in addition to the existing legal entitlement to unpaid Time Off for Dependents, which is available for emergency care.
• Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Bill – currently any employee who is on maternity leave and facing a redundancy situation should get priority for any suitable vacancies, even over other employes whose roles are also at risk. The new legislation proposes to extend this right during the whole of pregnancy and for 6 months after the end of the 52 week maternity leave period. Similar protection will be made available to parents returning from a period of Adoption Leave or Shared Paternity Leave.
• Neonatal leave and pay – this will allow parents the right to paid time off for children who are receiving or have received neonatal care. The period of time off will be a minimum of 1 week up to a maximum of 12 weeks and, like carer’s leave, will apply to employees from day one of employment.
• Miscarriage Leave Bill – currently, if a miscarriage occurs after 24 weeks of pregnancy, employees are still entitled to maternity or paternity leave and pay. This new Bill would apply to parents who have experienced a miscarriage before 24 weeks. The right is to 3 days of paid leave to allow them to grieve. As with the other Bills above, we don’t know yet when this will become law.
• Flexible working – the current law on this topic requires an employee to have at least 1 year’s service before they can make a flexible working request. The proposed revision to this would allow employees to make a formal flexible working request from day one of employment and allow them to make two requests per year, rather than the current limit to one request in a 12 month period.

So, what does this mean for my business? The government has yet to give any timescales for when the new Family Friendly laws will come into effect. For now, employers should start planning for updates to any Employee Handbooks and/or Family Friendly Policies. We at MAD-HR will, of course, continue to provide updates on the timescales as soon as we know them and we can help employers with any policy revisions required, to ensure you remain legally compliant. 3. Third-party Harassment at Work This Bill will introduce a duty on employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of employees by third parties, for example, customers or suppliers. Under the Bill, employers will become liable for the harassment if they are considered not to have taken all reasonable steps to prevent it. Full details are yet to be available but the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has said it will provide a statutory code of practice once the Bill becomes law. So, what does this mean for my business? Hopefully you already have policies in place to prevent any kind of harassment for your employees, not just harassment relating to sex. However, any Equality & Diversity policies are likely to need updating in line with the promised code of practice from EHRC, once it is available. Employees should also receive regular training on how to prevent and deal with harassment both from other employees and third parties. Your MAD-HR consultancy team will, of course, be happy to help with any policy revisions and provision of training. 4. And finally… It won’t have escaped your notice that we have a Coronation this year! To celebrate, the government announced that there will be an additional Bank Holiday, on 8th May. So, what does this mean for my business? You will need to review the wording in employees’ contracts regarding Bank Holiday entitlement:

• If the contract states that employees ‘are entitled to 8 Bank Holidays a year’ and / or names the specific Bank Holidays, you have no contractual obligation to allow the employees the additional Bank Holiday and can decide whether or not to use discretion and allow them paid time off anyway. (Just bear in mind the impact on employee morale if you say “no”, though…).
• If the contract wording is less specific and uses wording like, “you are entitled to ‘x’ days of annual leave plus Bank Holidays”, then you may well have a contractual obligation to allow employees the paid time off for the additional day.
• Remember that employees who work part-time are entitled to Bank Holidays on a pro rata basis. In normal times, an employee who works, say, 3 days a week would be entitled to 3/5 of 8 Bank Holidays, i.e. 5 days (rounded from 4.8). If the contract wording is woolly on Bank Holiday entitlement, then the example above becomes 3/5 of 9 Bank Holidays i.e. 5.5 days (rounded from 5.4).

If you’d like help reviewing contract wording around Bank Holidays or calculating part time entitlement, just contact MAD-HR and we’d be happy to help! This text was originally written by MAD-HR Ltd. Copyright © 2023 MAD-HR Ltd. All rights reserved: https://www.mad-hr.co.uk/blog/key-changes-in-employment-law-2023 Image provided by MAD-HR