Tackling the effects of climate change for employees, supporting young people in the workplace, drug and alcohol misuse at work and the latest HMRC Tax Webinar dates
Welcome to today’s blog post which discusses the latest business news for our clients. Please contact us if you want to talk about how these updates affect your business. We are here to support you!
Employers should prepare for a warmer future
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is advising businesses to think how they need to adapt to warmer working conditions for their staff.
After this year’s record-breaking temperatures and with more hot weather this month, HSE is asking employers to ensure extreme heat becomes part of their long-term planning.
Adapting to climate change is something all businesses will need to consider as warmer weather becomes more frequent.
Employers have a legal obligation under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations to assess risks to the health and safety of workers. They must review the risk controls they have in place and update them if needed. This includes risks from more frequent extreme weather such as heatwaves.
While there is no maximum temperature for workplaces, all workers are entitled to an environment where risks to their health and safety are properly controlled. Heat is classed as a hazard and comes with legal obligations like any other hazard. The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations require employers to provide a reasonable temperature in the workplace.
See: Temperature at work
Young people at work
The Health and Safety Executive have a dedicated webpage for employers reminding them of the need to be extra cautious with the safety of young people.
When you employ young people under the age of 18, you have the same responsibilities for their health, safety and welfare as you do for other workers. This applies whether they are:
- a worker,
- on work experience, or
- an apprentice.
Young people are likely to be new to the workplace and so are at more risk of injury in the first six months of a job, as they may be less aware of risks. They will often be vulnerable, as they may:
- lack experience or maturity;
- not have reached physical maturity and lack strength;
- be eager to impress or please people they work with; or
- be unaware of how to raise concerns.
Young people need clear and sufficient instruction, training, and supervision so they understand the importance of health and safety and can work without putting themselves and other people at risk. They may need more supervision than adults.
Work experience and work-based learning will be the first time most young people experience the work environment.
Good preparation and organisation of placements is essential if these opportunities are to be helpful and safe introductions to work.
If your workplace has health and safety representatives, they can play a valuable role early on by:
- introducing the young person to the workplace;
- helping with their ongoing training; and
- giving employers feedback about particular concerns.
See: Young people at work – Overview – HSE
Managing drug and alcohol misuse in the workplace
Employers have a legal duty to protect employees’ health, safety, and welfare and understanding the signs of drug and alcohol misuse (or abuse) will help you manage health and safety risk in your workplace.
The HSE website has step-by-step guidance to help you manage drug and alcohol misuse at work.
This includes advice on how to develop a drugs and alcohol policy and what you can do to support your employees.
See: Managing drug and alcohol misuse at work – Overview – HSE
Latest HMRC Employer tax webinars
Listed below are a number of live HMRC webinars that will help employers with payroll matters. The webinars are free and last around an hour.
Statutory Maternity and Paternity Pay
Thu 21 Sep at 9:45am
Expenses and benefits for your employees – if your employees have more than one workplace
Tue 5 Sep at 11:45am
Expenses and benefits for your employees – trivial benefits
Wed 6 Sep at 1:45pm
Expenses and benefits for your employees – social functions and parties
Thu 7 Sep at 9:45am
Expenses and benefits for your employees – phones, internet, and homeworking
Mon 11 Sep at 1:45pm
Expenses and benefits for your employees – travel
Tue 12 Sep at 11:45am
Expenses and benefits for your employees – company cars, vans, and fuel
Wed 13 Sep at 1:45pm
Getting payroll information right
Thu 14 Sep at 9:45am
Statutory Sick Pay
Fri 22 Sep at 11:45am