Drivers and freight operators have long been blighted by freight crime. However, a growing trend is being reported whereby organized crime groups are targeting lorries for their valuable loads. These gangs exploit vulnerabilities at rest stops, focusing on high-value goods such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, and alcohol.

Jo Dawson-Gerrard interviews Ashton Cull, Senior Public Affairs Lead for the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and Heather Lunney, Associate Director in the employment team at Backhouse Jones about: the issues arising in respect of this sort of high-value, low risk freight crime; the RHA's campaign; and what operators can do to support and safeguard their employees.

They also discuss the recent APPG on Freight and Logistics report (Report) co-written by the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service and the RHA which outlines the scale of the problem and makes recommendations to combat freight crime.

Read more:

Generally

https://backhousejones.co.uk/just-parked-up-hgv-drivers-and-loads-targeted-by-gangs/

The Report

www.rha.uk.net/Portals/0/RHA_APPG%20Freight%20Crime%20Report_241112.pdf?ver=UsWyWuWYdhkXr9K6Uq1ylQ%3D%3D

Contact: marketing@backhousejones.co.uk
Website: backhouses.co.uk

On 10 October 2024, the draft Employment Rights Bill 2024 (Bill) was laid before Parliament by the government.

The 28 new measures contained in the Bill (some only applying to the public sector) have been dubbed as the most substantial employment law changes for the past 30 years. The government’s aim is to boost pay, productivity and deliver economic security and growth to businesses, workers, and communities across the United Kingdom. For operators though, it will be an important time to review and adopt potentially quite different procedures and practices in their businesses.

The following key areas are likely to be introduced:

• Unfair dismissal will become a day one right, subject to a statutory nine-month probationary period.
• Paternity leave and parental leave will also become day one rights.
• Statutory Sick Pay can be claimed from first day of sickness absence.
• Employers will have less scope to refuse flexible working.
• Sexual harassment rules.
• Right to guaranteed hours contracts for zero and low hours workers who regularly work more hours will be granted.
• ‘Fire and re-hire’ controls will be introduced.
• Redundancy rules.
• Gender pay gap and menopause rules.
• New mothers and pregnant women will have enhanced protections.
• Trade union laws are being amended.

Heather Lunney and Jo Dawson-Gerrard go through the key areas for operators, explain some of the terms and outline what operators need to be thinking about to not fall foul of the impending legislation.

Read more: https://backhousejones.co.uk/employment-rights-bill-2024/

Contact: marketing@backhousejones.co.uk
Website: backhouses.co.uk

Jo Dawson-Gerrard and Heather Lunney discuss the recent UK Supreme Court decision which unanimously ruled that a supermarket chain cannot fire and rehire distribution workers who receive ‘retained pay’ and has reinstated a High Court injunction to prevent it from doing so.

We discuss the implications of this decision and what operators should do if they need to change employees terms and conditions.

Contact: marketing@backhousejones.co.uk
Website: backhouses.co.uk

Further to the General Election 2024, Jo Dawson-Gerrard and Heather Lunney take you through the key proposals from Labour’s Plan to Make Work Pay.

We discuss:

- First day rights for unfair dismissal and other things.
- Changes to the Minimum Wage.
- Trade Unions.
- Fire and rehire arrangements.
- Zero hours contracts.

And much more.

Contact: marketing@backhousejones.co.uk
Website: backhouses.co.uk

Given that one in four women and one in six men will experience at least one incident of domestic abuse in their lifetime, and possibly up to 75 per cent of employed victims are harassed by their abusers while at work, it is likely that members of most workforces will have some experience of it. Jo Dawson-Gerrard and Heather Lunney discuss the obligations that employer's have towards their employees in this situation, the impact on the business and practical ways to help their employees.

If you are affected by domestic abuse, please read here for initial advice on resources: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/gender-violence/domestic-violence-and-abuse-getting-help/

The content of this podcast is correct at the time of broadcasting and isn’t meant to be specific legal advice. If you need advice, we recommend that you take proper legal advice for your individual situation.

Please leave us a review and of course details of any areas you would like us to cover in Your employees' health and your business future episodes. We do read them and it helps others find our podcast. Enjoy!

Contact: marketing@backhouses.co.uk

Website: www.backhousejones.co.uk

Like the rules governing them, tachograph issues are rarely straight-forward and understanding the rules and how to implement them practically with your staff is crucial.

With the myriad of offences that can occur and this area being ever-more scrutinised, it is more important than ever for operators to understand where each offence sits on the scale and the appropriate disciplinary action to take with their drivers and other staff.

Jo Dawson-Gerrard discusses this and some of the spin off issues with James Backhouse and James Lomax.

Details of the "missing mileage" and "tachograph 6 point plan" tachograph and drivers' hours training sessions on Back Academy Ltd can be found here: https://backacademy.com/training/. They are run periodically, so let us know if the date you want isn't showing as we may be able to assist. We also run bespoke sessions at request.

The content of this podcast is correct at the time of broadcasting and isn’t meant to be specific legal advice. If you need advice, we recommend that you take proper legal advice for your individual situation.

Please leave us a review and of course details of any areas you would like us to cover in Your employees' health and your business future episodes. We do read them and it helps others find our podcast. Enjoy!

Contact: marketing@backhouses.co.uk

Website: www.backhousejones.co.uk

This April saw the introduction of changes to the flexible working regime. Jo Dawson-Gerrard and Heather Lunney give you a brief over-view of 5 of the key changes that you need to be aware of for your business and how operators can prepare for them.

The content of this podcast is correct at the time of broadcasting and isn’t meant to be specific legal advice. If you need advice, we recommend that you take proper legal advice for your individual situation.

Please leave us a review and of course details of any areas you would like us to cover in Your employees' health and your business future episodes. We do read them and it helps others find our podcast. Enjoy!

Contact: marketing@backhouses.co.uk

Website: www.backhousejones.co.uk

April is traditionally a month where a number of HR legal changes are introduced and April 2024 is no exception. Jo Dawson-Gerrard and Heather Lunney give you a brief over-view of 6 of the key changes that you need to be aware of for your business:

• National Living Wage increase.
• Holiday pay and entitlement changes.
• Flexible working changes.
• Carer's leave.
• Enhances maternity rights.
• Paternity rights.

In this podcast we only briefly refer to the changes to holiday pay and entitlement. This is a large topic and you can find the link to the full podcast on this here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/need-a-holiday-a-run-through-of-the/id1692007953?i=1000645022629

The content of this podcast is correct at the time of broadcasting and isn’t meant to be specific legal advice. If you need advice, we recommend that you take proper legal advice for your individual situation.

Please leave us a review and of course details of any areas you would like us to cover in Your employees' health and your business future episodes. We do read them and it helps others find our podcast. Enjoy!

Contact: marketing@backhouses.co.uk

Website: www.backhousejones.co.uk