Karen Cole

New sexual harassment rules may signal changes to office parties or a decline altogether – December 2024
How the Employment Rights Bill 2024 impacts employers and businesses – October 2024
Comprehensive Guide to Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) – October 2024
How to navigate workplace language and avoid discrimination claims – October 2024
High temperatures in the workplace – August 2024
Fair tips for all: New legislation ensures transparency in gratuity distribution – June 2024
Preventing sexual harassment – June 2024
How should an employer respond to a ‘heat of the moment’ resignation? – May 2024
Working with freelancers – March 2024
Why flexibility and rigid rules won’t mix in the workplace – March 2024
What is ESG, and what does it mean for employers? – February 2024
Work-Life Balance: How you can support your employees – December 2023
Managing the menopause at work – October 2023
Can a UK employee work abroad remotely? – July 2023
Fire and rehire – is it a good idea? – May 2023
A step towards family and maternity leave security – May 2023
Significant duties set to fall on employers – April 2023
Christmas temps – what are the rules? – December 2022
How employment law affects your business – July 2022
Pronouns in the Workplace – June 2022
Top five tips for supporting EU workers post-Brexit – June 2021
Companies must be on track for COVID-safe workplace – June 2021
Employers Guide: Returning to work from furlough – May 2021
Are you a worker? – May 2021
Employment status: It’s a status thing! – May 2021
Vegan beliefs extend beyond Veganuary – January 2021
Enforceability: Post-termination restrictions – January 2021
Lockdown your data whilst remote working – April 2020
Avoiding a cracker of a hangover from the company Christmas party – November 2019
Dismissed with less than two years’ service? – September 2019
Can I fire someone with less than two years of service? – June 2019
Nine smart ways to build staff loyalty – May 2019
April showers employers with a raft of employment legislation – April 2019
Greater protection for pregnant women and new parents – February 2019
Misbehaviour at the office Christmas party? – January 2019
Equality takes centre stage for employers – January 2019
Brexit and employment law – December 2018
Caste discrimination at work – December 2018
Parental bereavement (leave and pay) – December 2018
Red flag for employers – November 2018
The hidden disability: when mental health affects employee wellbeing – October 2018
ACAS guidance on employment references – September 2018
The Employment Tribunal Strikes Back – September 2018
Employee data subject access requests – September 2018
Early Conciliation: The rise in Employment Tribunal claim notifications – July 2018
Voluntary workers – July 2018
Dealing with employee theft – July 2018
Firefighter ruling sparks new heat for employers – May 2018
Share schemes: a perk or a pain? – May 2018
GDPR: The concept of consent – April 2018
Spotlight on equal pay – March 2018
Bullying: Beat the workplace bullies – December 2017
Have you paid an Employment Tribunal fee? – November 2017
What does the gig economy mean? – November 2017
The Data Protection Bill: How will it affect e-business? – November 2017
Workforce wellbeing must include mental health awareness – September 2017
Good practice is vital for employers in managing tribunal claims – September 2017
GDPR: Are you ready? – August 2017
Gender pay likely to stay in the spotlight – August 2017
Stripping it back to understand dress codes – July 2017
Whistleblowing and the Public Interest Test – July 2017
Good intentions are not enough in wage calculations – July 2017
Employment contracts and working overseas – July 2017
Supreme Court rule Employment Tribunal fees are unlawful – July 2017
What is a SOSR dismissal? – May 2017
Zero-hours contracts: many questions – May 2017
Calculating holiday pay – change on the horizon? – May 2017
Publication of Employment Tribunal Judgments – April 2017
Facing up to the social media challenge – April 2017
Gender Pay Gap Reporting – March 2017
Employers to pay apprenticeship levy – March 2017
Employment Law: The Basics – February 2017
What is the General Data Protection Regulation? – January 2017
Complex challenges for employers in the year ahead – January 2017
Getting to work amidst travel chaos and disruption – January 2017
Can businesses force employees to take holiday over the Christmas period? – December 2016
How employers can say no, without saying a word – December 2016
Dismissing employees with under two years’ service – December 2016
Termination Payments & Tax – November 2016
Discrimination: from hot air to bra sizes – November 2016
Equal Pay Day 2016 – November 2016
Workplace investigations – February 2016
How to hire an employee – October 2014
What are restrictive covenants? – October 2014
Dealing with employee grievances – October 2014
Unfair dismissal cap changes – April 2014

Karen offers sensible and commercial advice to businesses and individuals on issues that arise during the employment relationship. She deals with and provides all types of employment documents, including policies and procedures, and gives advice on dismissals, performance management, and the redundancy process. Her employment law work also regularly involves advice on settlement agreements, formerly known as compromise agreements and family-friendly rights.

• Advice
• Checklists
• Consents
• Data processing agreements
• Data processing clauses (GDPR version)
• Data processing letters to employees
• Data protection clauses for employment contracts
• Data Protection Impact Assessment Reports (DPIAs)
• Data protection policies
• Data subject access: employer’s detailed response
• Data subject access: employer’s holding response
• Data subject access: request letters
• Employee monitoring clauses for employment contracts
• Fair processing and privacy notices re: candidate data
• Fair processing and privacy notices re: employee data
• Memorandum to the board of directors
• Privacy notices
• Website privacy policies

Disputes arise in all areas of business and commerce. Karen regularly advises on a broad range of matters in a commercial setting, such as disputes between businesses or between individuals in business, be they shareholders, partners, or directors. The bulk of Karen’s work involves situations where a former employee acts in breach of post-termination restrictions. Such breaches usually involve an attempt to solicit customers or current employees.

Unique to the market, businesses can benefit from Karen Cole’s Gold, Silver and Bronze level employment and regulatory law advice retainer packages. Click here for more information.

Having out-of-date or unsuitable employment contracts could create problems for your business and could lead to expensive employment disputes. Click here for more information.