Ask your union: Issue 4 - November 2023 | Accord Magazine

Sickness absence

A woman wrapped up in a blanket - feeling unwell

Sickness absence

Although my attendance record isn’t 100% (I’ve had COVID recently and prior to that my GP signed me off for a couple of weeks as my IBS flared up) I’ve been told that if I have any more time off I’ll be taken to the formal stage of the attendance policy.

Flexible working – change to part time

I was wondering if I could get some support regarding flexible working. I came back from adoption leave a few months ago and I am looking at moving to part time hours.

Answer:

Lloyds Banking Group’s Flexibility Works allows adoptive parents to apply for compressed working for 2 years from the date of placement via a flexible working request so it may be worth considering this option. But if you’d prefer to reduce your working hours on a more permanent basis then this will need to be agreed with your line manager.

So you can discuss any impacts, you’ll need to arrange a 121 meeting with your line manager. You can expect them to accommodate your request if possible and agree when your new working hours will start. But if the change impacts the team headcount, some further discussion may be needed.

If you don’t think your request has been properly considered and need support, please get in touch via our helpline: 0118 934 1808 or by email to [email protected]

Sick pay

I can’t work out how much sick pay I’ve got left and when my entitlement re-sets.

I’m told Lloyds Banking Group operates a ‘rolling’ system. What does that mean?

Answer:

You must look back on any day of the year that you are off sick and add up any sickness absence/pay you’ve had since then to determine what you’ve got left. It never “re-sets”. So, for example, if you were off on 30th November 2023 you would have to look back to 30th November 2022 and add up the amount of sickness absence/pay you’ve had since then to work out your remaining entitlement.

Hope this helps, but if it would be easier to talk through, please give our duty office a call today on 0118 934 1808.

Hybrid working – how is 40% being measured when annual leave is taken?

We’re being told by our line mangers that if we take annual leave and it cuts across days we would be expected to be in the office, then we will have to make that time back up in the office within the same month.

This seems unfair as it means that if I take a week off, I’ve then got to work 80% of my time in the office the following week.

Is this really the way hybrid is supposed to work?

Answer:

No – that’s not right. The expectation is that you should be spending 40% of your available time for work in any given month in the office. 

So, if you aren’t in the office in any month because you’ve been on leave, then your LM will know that and be able to explain why if questioned.

Representation at formal meetings

I’ve been with the business for 10 years and have never had any issues so I haven’t bothered to join the union. But I’ve recently been told a grievance has been lodged against me and I must attend a formal hearing. If I join, will you be able to represent me?

Answer:

Sorry to hear you’ve hit a problem at work. It’s a shame you’ve left it until now to consider joining as, unfortunately, we’re not able to represent you at any formal meetings for this issue. That’s because you’d be joining simply because you have a problem. If everyone did the same there simply wouldn’t be a union as our only source of income is members’ subscriptions. So, we’d effectively be using the resources paid for by our members on someone who hadn’t yet contributed anything towards the service.

I hope you understand. It’s a bit like crashing your car and then trying to insure it afterwards.

That said, if you join, we would be prepared to give you telephone and email advice to help you prepare for your formal hearing and support you from a distance through the process. And you’d be entitled to our full range of services for future issues. So, it’s still worth you joining.

Call our friendly membership team on 0118 934 1808 and they’ll get you signed up immediately.

Cartoon characters concept of helping and representing members

Membership benefits

I’ve just joined as a new member but don’t really know what benefits I can access. Can you point me in the right direction?

Answer:

Here’s the page on our website that lists the benefits – just scroll down to view and click on the individual benefits for more detail.

And for more info about what Accord can do for you, click on the collective representation and individual representation buttons for more info.

£500 one off payment in December 2023

What are the rules around the date you must be employed to be eligible for the £500 payment due in December 2023?

Answer:

If you leave the business on or before 30 November 2023, or you have given notice to leave the Group prior to payment on 18 December, you will not be eligible for the award.

Dallas McMillan's collecting their award

Dallas McMillan win Employment and Pensions Team of the Year at Scottish Law Awards

Everyone at Accord was delighted to hear that our friends at Dallas McMillan were named Employment and Pensions Team of the Year at this year’s Scottish Law Awards.

This year alone the team, led by David Hutchison, has recovered over £15 million in compensation for workers, including Accord members. Working with Dallas McMillan, our members have secured wins in cases related to equal pay, flexible working and reasonable adjustments for disabled workers.

The Dallas McMillan team has also won a very significant and long-running equal pay case against Fife Council, as a result of which more than 1,500 workers will receive compensation payments.

The Law Awards Judging Panel said:

“The judges all agreed Dallas McMillan demonstrated considerable growth, a fantastic result for a smaller firm. They display a large body of work for clients across equal pay, unpaid holiday and minimum wage claimants, the successes of which have allowed the firm to expand in several areas and have allowed for a number of modernising changes within the organisation. The more the Judges assessed the submission the more they were impressed.”

Dallas McMillan was also shortlisted for Law Firm of the Year.

“Everyone at the firm was thrilled to be shortlisted for both awards,’ said managing partner David McElroy. ‘And winning the Employment & Pensions Team of the Year award is a tremendous achievement for David and his team. The judges’ kind words about the firm mean a lot to us too as we have been making a firm-wide effort to improve our profile and grow the firm.

Commenting on the awards, Accord’s Assistant General Secretary Paula Tegg said:

“This is a well-deserved award for the fantastic employment team at Dallas McMillian. We’ve been working with the firm for several years and I’m always confident that our members are in expert hands. On cases big and small, they represent Accord members diligently and with absolute professionalism. Our warmest congratulations to David McElroy, David Hutchison and all the team.”

As part of their membership, Accord members in Scotland can access a range of Dallas McMillan’s specialist legal services. As well as offering representation in workplace disputes, the firm also offers members:

representation in personal injury claims on a no win no fee basis;
representation in clinical negligence claims on a no win no fee basis;
representation in criminal injuries compensation claims on a no win no fee basis;
free preparation of wills;
discounted conveyancing services;
family discounts for the preparation of wills and Powers of Attorney and for any conveyancing work; and
Support with general legal enquiries on 0300 303 1606.

Accord members in England can access legal services with Slater and Gordon, and members in Northern Ireland can look to Francis Hanna and Co.