0370 270 6000

Search

Search Mobile

collapse

already registered?

Please sign in with your existing account details.

Email address

Password

Sign in with LinkedIn

need to register?

Register to access exclusive content, sign up to receive our updates and personalise your experience on brownejacobson.com.

Privacy statement - Terms and conditions

Register with LinkedIn

Forgotten your password?

collapseSign

Home

Insights & events

Resources

Blogs

Grand Theft Auto V - enough to make you sick

Grand Theft Auto V – enough to make you sick?

18 September 2013

This week’s launch of the ‘GTA V’ has caused some unexpected problems for employers, with reports that many people were considering calling in sick so they could go and buy the game.

Employers who are concerned about employees ‘pulling sickies’ should consider the following steps:

• training for line managers – in asking sympathetic and appropriate questions when employees call in sick. They should find out and record why the employee is unable to work and when they expect to return. If the absence is prolonged or recurring, it may be appropriate to ask about medical treatment

• return to work interviews – it may be worth sitting down with the employee when they get back to work. The meeting can be brief and informal but evidence shows that employees who are considering calling in sick may think twice if they know that they will be required to explain their reasons when they return.

Related opinions

Internal reports and privilege

In University of Dundee v Chakraborty, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) considered whether a first draft of a grievance report could retrospectively be deemed to be privileged.

IR35 rules to be scrapped from April 2023

The Chancellor’s recent mini-budget provided a significant announcement for business as it was confirmed that the off-payroll working rules (known as “IR35”) put in place for public and private sector businesses from 2017 and 2021 will be scrapped from April 2023.

Revoking and reforming EU law

The Government has published the Retained EU Revocation and Reform Bill which, if passed, provides for the revocation of all “EU-derived subordinate legislation” (i.e. UK statutory instruments which were introduced to implement EU law) and retained direct EU legislation on 31 December 2023, unless legislation is specifically introduced to save them.

Gender equality

Randstad has published a report on gender equality in the workplace based upon survey responses from 6,000 workers within the construction, education, healthcare and technology sectors. Whilst legislation relating to sex discrimination has been around for over 45 years, nearly three quarters of female workers surveyed reported that they had either experienced or witnessed inappropriate behaviour or comments from male colleagues.

View all blogs

Mailing list sign up

Select which mailings you would like to receive from us.

Sign up

Quick links

Employment