Managing the Employment Relationship
With reference to the scenario brief, analyze, evaluate, and discuss the key employment relations issues facing the company Organic Health Foods.
- Advise the Director of the actions needed for an amicable resolution and to be legally compliant.
- Use key case studies and relevant employment legislation to support your answer. Total marks: 100%
The Scenario Brief
You are a freelance HR consultant advising Zak Tan, Director of Organic Health Foods (OHF) on several employment relations issues. OHF is a retailer based in Covent Garden, with a staff of 50, comprising of drivers, sales persons, cashiers, administrative staff and cleaners. Zak Tan has made several contract changes without notifying the staff. He has removed all parental statutory rights including paternity and maternity leave from the contracts and any leave should now be taken as annual leave.
OHF has refused to comply to the National Minimum Wage (NMW), stating a flat rate of £8 per hour was reasonable. Recently, Zak Tan only promoted white males to managers and terminated the contracts of all staff over 60 years on the grounds they were too old to work.
Last month, Zak Tan refused to recognize Gender Reassignment (GR) as a legitimate illness and refused to pay Sam Johnson for sick pay as he received GR treatment. ( This section carries 25 Marks).
Moreover, there has been a high turnover of staff at OHF, where staff have been told that they cannot join trade unions and recently staff have been informed they cannot wear any religious wear or jewellry representing their religion. Currently, there is no handbook or training on dress code.