{"id":111,"date":"2019-08-14T13:14:21","date_gmt":"2019-08-14T12:14:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/policybee.co.uk\/blog\/?p=111"},"modified":"2024-06-25T12:34:52","modified_gmt":"2024-06-25T11:34:52","slug":"what-does-duty-of-care-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.policybee.co.uk\/blog\/what-does-duty-of-care-mean","title":{"rendered":"What does ‘duty of care’ mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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\"Duty<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Personal relationships can be hard work. All that making sure the other person\u2019s all right and not feeling neglected is time-consuming. Especially if they\u2019re a bit needy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More often than not, you have to\nwork at it. And if things start going wrong, a bunch of flowers from the local\npetrol station won\u2019t usually be enough to patch things up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same can be said of your professional relationships. They need working at too, to make sure your clients stay feeling loved (and keep paying their invoices<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And there\u2019s more. Because in this kind of relationship, you have something called a \u2018duty of care\u2019 to your clients \u2013 both legally and morally. It makes it serious from the outset and means there can be more dramatic consequences than a broken heart if you mess up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is duty of care?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Any\nprofessional person\u2019s duty of care is basically the same. Loosely defined, it\u2019s\nyour responsibility not to cause damage to others that could reasonably be\nforeseen and avoided. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your level\nof expertise in your area of work is deemed to be higher than that of the\naverage guy in the street. It\u2019s the reason your client hired you in the first\nplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, if things don\u2019t go quite according to plan and your professional service fails to deliver what your client wants or expects, you could be sued for damages \u2013 because of your breach of duty of care. It\u2019s basically an accusation you\u2019ve been negligent<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If that happens, you’ll need quite a lot more than a box of chocolates and a sheepish grin to make it all go away. Best to treat yourself to a professional indemnity insurance<\/a> policy, then. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It protects you by paying for a legal expert to fight your corner and also covers any compensation due. It\u2019ll see you through even the messiest of divorces from a client. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What does duty of care mean for your staff?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve got employees, you also have a moral and legal duty of care to them. That means you need to take good care of them. And it\u2019s the same if they\u2019re full-time, part-time, temporary, or even voluntary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not convinced you need to go that extra mile? Well, take a look at the Health & Safety Executive\u2019s (HSE) info on employee welfare<\/a>. It has quite a lot to say on the subject of protecting the physical and mental wellbeing of your staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus,\nthere\u2019s another side to safeguarding your employees\u2019 welfare that the HSE is\nvery keen on. So keen, in fact, that it makes it a legal necessity, whether you\u2019ve\ngot just one member of staff or one hundred. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s called employers\u2019 liability insurance<\/a> (EL) and it protects both your employees and your business. It covers your legal costs and any compensation due if someone claims they were injured or made ill by working for you. So, it\u2019s a two-way thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t have EL when you should have and you\u2019re caught out by the HSE, they can fine you. That\u2019s a meaty \u00a32,500 for each day you were meant to have EL but didn\u2019t and a bonus \u00a31,000 for not displaying the required certificate. Ouch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How do you fulfil your duty of care?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Honouring your duty of care takes a little planning, but reaps rewards. It leads to better relationships all round, both with your clients and your staff. It also puts your business in a stronger position overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where clients are concerned, setting some ground rules for the relationship from the get-go sets it on the right road. You don\u2019t have to go overboard with the TLC; it\u2019s more the Ts & Cs that matter: <\/p>\n\n\n\n