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HR case studies: dilemmas faced by Practice Principal members

Post date: 05/03/2024 | Time to read article: 1 mins

The information within this article was correct at the time of publishing. Last updated 12/03/2024

If you’re a Practice Principal Dental Protection member, you don’t need to hire a solicitor for employment law advice. You can access expert Croner’s HR and H&S support at no additional cost*. Below are some recent case studies based on advice given to members.

If the following examples sound like a situation you are facing, do not hesitate to contact Croner for support on 0844 561 8133, and quote your association code. 

 

Dilemma 1:

“I have a member of staff who is persistently late to work. We’ve carried out an investigation and presented the employee with an improvement plan. Things haven’t improved in the last couple of weeks, and now the employee is citing a disability as the reason for the lateness. Where should we go from here?”

Croner’s advice: 

In this situation, it’s important not to discriminate against the employee due to their disability. Assess whether you can provide reasonable adjustments such as pushing back the employee’s start time. If the lateness persists, we’d recommend obtaining a medical report to see if there are any further reasonable adjustments for the employee. If no further adjustments can be made, and lateness is persisting, we’d recommend conducting a formal meeting to assess the employee’s medical capability.

 

Dilemma 2:

“We have a long service employee who has an enhanced holiday allowance. For financial reasons, we’re looking to reduce this to match all other employees. Do we need to consult with the employee before doing so?”

Croner’s advice:

As you’re looking at making contractual changes, you will need to consult with the employee to obtain agreement in order for the changes to be lawful. We recommend that these discussions are documented, and that the agreement is confirmed in writing. If you proceed with enforcing the changes without the employee’s agreement, you will be in breach of contract. In this instance, the employee would have a valid claim for tribunal.


*Available to Dental Protection members with active Practice Principal membership. For advice, contact the Croner advisors today on 0844 561 8133 and quote 60000.

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