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EMPLOYMENT LAW ADVICE FOR READING EMPLOYERS

Employment Law FAQs for Businesses

When can I dock an employee’s pay?

You can dock an employee’s pay for:

• Absences that have not been authorised
• Where wages have been overpaid
• Losses caused as a result of the employee not fulfilling their employment duties
• Loans
• Any other monies owed e.g. overpaid holidays

However, the actual right to dock pay is contingent on whether:

• The employer has an express contractual right to do so
• It is allowed for by statute law
• The employee has given their express written consent to docking

Do I have to pay employee’s who have been summoned for jury service?

No.  Employers are not obligated to pay employees who have been summoned for jury service.  However, your employee can ask you for a certificate of lost earnings which can be presented to the Court’s Service to claim back some of the money they have lost.

Who qualifies for paternity leave?

Persons who are:

• Living with an expecting mother
• Expected to help take care of the new born child
• Have been in continuous service with the employee for 26 weeks by the 15^th week before expected date of childbirth

…are generally eligible for paternity leave.

However, this is subject to:

• The employee notifying the employer of their intention to take leave
• Using the leave to help care for the child and the mother of the childbirth
• The employee working from the 15^th week before expected childbirth up until the birth

How many weeks paternity leave are employees entitled to?

Up to 26 weeks.

When can an employee start their paternity leave?

Leave can be taken on the day the baby is born, after the baby is born or one week before the expected birthdate.