Posted in Posts
We learn how the recent Supreme Court ruling on the definition of ‘woman’ has implications for dentistry, dental staff and patients. Last month, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the terms ‘woman’ and ‘sex’ in the Equality Act refer only to a biological woman and to biological sex. This means that under the act: Additionally,…
Posted in Posts
Sarah Buxton sets out some of the legal pitfalls of the recruitment process in dentistry. It’s no secret that the recruitment and retention of good staff members within dentistry is one of the main problems facing dental practice owners. There is very little training provided at dental school or within the profession on how to…
Posted in Posts
Sarah Buxton explains the processes that HMRC uses to determine employment status and discusses if it is worth being self-employed. Practice owners are currently being bombarded with queries from team members about whether they are or should remain self-employed. Once again, the dental industry is considering this point and there is a lot of confusion…
Posted in Posts
Sarah Buxton explains how to protect yourself from being on the wrong side of ‘merry’ this Christmas. Christmas parties are great for morale, and they really do create memories for the team that bind them together and help with retention. It offers an opportunity to dress up, maybe enjoy a nice meal and even socialise…
Posted in Posts
Sarah Buxton explains the changes to regulations around employees’ right to request flexible working and how to deal with them. On 6 April 2024, the new rules on the right to request to flexible working came into effect. The statutory request allows employees to request changes to their terms and conditions of employment in relation…
Posted in Posts
Sarah Buxton, of Buxton Coates Solicitors, talks through the ins and outs of bullying in the dental practice this Anti-Bullying Week. I talk a lot about the importance of employee wellbeing, and I always emphasise how nuanced and multifaceted an issue this can be. It’s a broad-brush term that encapsulates happiness, physical and mental health,…
Posted in Posts
Both the Labour Party and the Conservative Party have published proposed changes in employment law as part of their manifesto. Sarah Buxton sets out some of the proposed changes which will be relevant to dental practice owners. Labour Dismissals The Labour Party has proposed that the right to not be unfairly dismissed should be a…
Posted in Posts
Sarah Buxton sheds light on the legal framework related to menopause and offers practical advice for creating a supportive workplace for all team members. In the modern world of workplace diversity and inclusion, addressing perimenopause and menopause has become increasingly important, especially in professions like dentistry that demand high levels of empathy and understanding. Statistics…
Posted in Posts
Sarah Buxton, a BSDHT (British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy) partner, shares her top legal tips for dental hygienists and dental therapists. 1. Seek advice before you sign One of the main issues currently affecting dental hygienists and dental therapists is the need for advice regarding new contracts and contract disputes. We believe that many…
Posted in Posts
Nigel Jones caught up with HR and employment lawyer, Sarah Buxton, to explore mandatory vaccinations, look at who it will impact, and discuss how practices can comply with regulations. Frontline NHS staff will need to become fully vaccinated by 1 April 2022. Can you give us a bit more detail on the current situation and…
Posted in Posts
It is a good idea to have an anti-stress policy explaining your attitude to stress in the workplace, Sarah Buxton advises Research shows that employee stress levels are rising in line with the demands of the 21st century workplace. A survey published by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development in 2016 found that stress…
Posted in Posts
Sarah Buxton says legal advice should always be sought when you are putting an employment agreement in place The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) recently held in Chatfeild-Roberts v Phillips & Universal Aunts Limited that the right of substitution only when a contractor is unable to work can still be consistent with personal performance, and so…
Posted in Posts
Practice Plan talks to Sarah Buxton about what she will be discussing at this year’s The Dentistry Show. This year’s Dentistry Show is just around the corner and after the huge success in 2016, Practice Plan will be curating the Dental Business Theatre programme for the second time. In anticipation of the show, Practice Plan…
Posted in Posts
Sarah Buxton gives an in depth insight into the new shared parental leave. It’s lunchtime at your practice. You have just finished your sandwich and decide to head into the staff room to see how the day is going for your employees. Upon entering you see a crowd of people smiling and offering their congratulations…
Posted in Posts
Sarah Buxton discusses the important role the employer plays at Christmas parties. ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through work a creature was stirring and something sinister did lurk.’ Whilst not the traditional opening to the famous ‘visit from St Nicholas’ by Clement Clarke Moore, I increasingly find this revised verse a more apt beginning…
