Communicate to avoid financial fallout, managers told

Regular updates to employment law in the UK threaten to "drive HR departments to distraction" if they fail to prioritise developments in communication and training.

That is the conclusion of Retail Week's Alison Clements, who notes that HR directors in major firms like Harvey Nichols facilitate periodic updates with solicitors to stay well-versed on employment law and its implications for their profession.

She points out that such companies employ "thousands of individuals across a large geographical area" and experience high levels of staff turnover, making effective communication key to avoiding financial penalties.

"Disseminating new rules on pay, holiday entitlement, equality and health and safety in the workplace is particularly challenging for larger retailers," she remarks.

Other employment law developments she underlines include issues of parental and adoptive leave and new age discrimination regulations.

"With new entitlements or regulations, HR departments must update the staff handbook and company website, alter recruitment literature and training materials and review their employment contracts and disciplinary procedures," Boodle Hatfield partner Karen Black tells the publication.

In addition to garnering professional legal updates, bosses at Harvey Nichols facilitate training sessions for line managers so they can be briefed on both recent and upcoming legislative changes.