ACAS has published new advice on how to handle staff suspensions, whether to allow you to carry out a disciplinary or grievance investigation, or to safeguard an employee’s health and safety.
A suspension is when an employer tells an employee to temporarily stop carrying out work. An employer should only suspend someone if it’s appropriate, such as:
- suspending an employee while they carry out an investigation, if it’s a serious situation and there’s no alternative
- medical suspension or pregnancy suspension to protect an employee’s health and safety
Publishing the new guidance, Acas Chief Executive, Susan Clews said:
“Our advice will help employers understand when they can consider suspension and the support that they can offer them.
Being suspended can be a stressful time for everyone. We have tips for employers on how they can support their employees’ mental health and wellbeing as well as alternative options to suspension that may be more appropriate.”
While the advice is non-binding and is unlikely to change well-established and thorough working practices, it could be a useful source of guidance and a valuable resource against which to sense check workplace policies and procedures. You can access the advice at https://www.acas.org.uk/suspension-during-an-investigation .
Motor Industry Legal Services
Motor Industry Legal Services (MILS Solicitors) provides fully comprehensive legal advice and representation to UK motor retailers for one annual fee. It is the only law firm in the UK which specialises in motor law and motor trade law. MILS currently advises over 1,000 individual businesses within the sector as well as the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) and its members.
