Employment issues
Social media is great. It increases your network for new business. It helps you build a personal brand. It also keeps you in tune with developments in the law. However, when you’re active on social media there are some pitfalls to watch out for.
Don’t be inaccurate or misleading
“I need to know can my employer reduce my hours? I am the manager of a taxi firm and work 39 hours per week Monday to Friday. I am worried, can my employer reduce my hours? My boss used to drive my autistic son to his special school until an incident occurred and he refused to take my son on this contract. I reported him to licencing for driving while talking on his mobile. Things have never been the same since and he has now reduced my hours to 16 hours with immediate effect. I will only be working two days a week on minimum wage. He said I can use my holidays this week and start back next Thursday 31st March. My other problem is that he took on a part timer about three weeks ago and this doesn’t affect him, whereas I’ve been here for well over five years. I’m also concerned that he pays other people cash in hand to cover some shifts in the office.”
“Please can you tell me my rights, as I need to inform working/child tax that I’m going part time. Can he legally do this to me? He says things are financially strangling him and will cover my shifts. I’m paid cash, fully on the books, get a weekly wage slip along with a weekly wage. I claim working tax and child tax credits and am the sole earner in our household. I have never received a written contract, but so far, he’s stuck to all aspects of employment law i.e. 28 days holidays etc and the correct minimum wage.”
The GDPR impacts on the giving of references and supplying confidential information
Employers are advised to write a clear policy on the giving of references. The ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) has said employers should have a clear policy setting out, which employees are authorised to give references and in what circumstances.
Whether you are a Data Controller or a Data Processor you have responsibilities under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). A controller determines the purposes and means of processing personal data, whereas a processor is responsible for processing personal data on behalf of a controller and you are required to maintain records of personal data and processing activities.
An increasing number of subject access requests have been made under the Data Protection Act 1998.
Subject access requests are used as tactical ploys as a way of putting pressure on the other side to disclose documents that would not otherwise be disclosable in litigation. Several cases have been
