Company in administration: employee rights
If your company goes into administration you will need to know about the rights of your employees and your liability for any outstanding monies owed to them on termination or transfer of their employment. It is also important that your employees know exactly where they stand with regards to their pay, pension and workplace rights, […]
MPs Back Immigration Bill & End of EU Free Movement
MPs have voted in favour of new legislation that will bring EU free movement to an end. Passing the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill is a critical phase in the government’s plan to introduce a new points-based immigration system for Britain from 2021. The Bill was approved at third reading by 342 […]
Piece Work & Paying Per Task
Different types of working arrangements are being considered and adopted by employers as organisations respond to changes in the market. In some cases, this involves a combination of new and traditional practices that meet both the individual needs of the worker and the operational needs of the business. Piece work, in particular when performed at […]
Part time hours & workers’ rights: HR guide
Understanding what counts as part time hours is important in determining the rights and entitlements of your part time workers. Below we look at what is classed as part time hours and how – save except in limited circumstances – the law protects these workers from less favourable treatment than full time workers by reason […]
Employment case law update June 2020
A number of key employment law cases of significance for employers have recently been decided. Unfair dismissal in redundancy Gwynedd Council v Barratt A London Employment Tribunal has ruled in favour of an NHS trust employer in the case of Camara v East London NHS Foundation Trust. A claim for unfair dismissal was brought by […]
Contesting A Will (A Complete Guide!)
If you are considering contesting a will, there will be a number of questions to ask about the process, the costs and whether you in fact have the right to bring a legal challenge. In all cases, you will need to act quickly as strict time limits apply and the more time that passes, the […]
Trial By Jury Could Be Abolished In Some Cases As Courts Address Backlog
Jury trials could be temporarily abolished within a matter of weeks under new legislation, according to suggestions from Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland QC. The Lord Chancellor told MPs on the justice select committee that the measure was under ‘serious consideration’ as a potential solution to address the mounting backlog in criminal cases. All jury trials […]
Rebekah Vardy Brings Defamation Claim Against Coleen Rooney
Rebekah Vardy has issued legal proceedings against Coleen Rooney for libel. The dispute centres on what has become known as the ‘Wagatha Christie’ scandal, the two women’s highly public social media fall-out. In October 2019, Rooney took to Twitter to accuse Vardy of leaking personal information about her to the Sun newspaper, with stories that […]
What Is Slander? (Essential Defamation Guide)
What is slander? Slander is one of two types of defamation. For a statement to be defamatory, it must be false and have caused or have the potential to cause harm to the reputation of another party. Slander covers defamatory statements that are temporary in nature and includes spoken statements, gestures as well as conduct. […]
Licensing Law Changes Expected To Boost Crisis Recovery
Pubs, restaurants and cafes are expected to be allowed to provide food and drink outdoors in a change to licensing laws designed to support businesses through the coronavirus crisis. The changes would see every pub, bar and restaurant automatically given permission to serve alcohol for people to drink on the pavement and in the street. […]
Lockdown Legal Challenge Set For High Court
A crowdfunded legal challenge to the government’s lockdown policy will be heard at the High Court on 2 July. A Crowdjustice campaign, led by businessman Simon Dolan, has to date raised more than £182,000, with almost 5,500 people having donated to fund legal action against the government over ‘unlawful’ lockdown measures. The High Court will […]
Right to work from home: perk or new norm?
Following the coronavirus outbreak and UK lockdown, working from home has become prevalent across the economy. This shift towards a more flexible way of working brings both risks and opportunities for employers, who must ensure they meet their duties towards remote workers. Is there a right to work from home? Under current laws, there is […]
No-Fault Divorces Set To Start From Autumn 2021
No-fault divorces are set to become available to divorcing couples from autumn 2021. The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill was backed by 231 MPs against 16 in a House of Commons vote on 8th June 2020, and concluded its passage through the House of Commons yesterday on 17th June 2020. The Bill will now be […]
Supreme Court Rules Against Visa & Mastercard Over Swipe Fees
Two of the world’s largest credit card companies have suffered another defeat in a long-running legal dispute with supermarket chains over interchange fees. The UK’s Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Visa Inc. and Mastercard Inc., affirming a lower court ruling that the mandated payments restricted competition. The Court was unanimous in upholding the decision […]
What Is A Pre Action Protocol In Civil Litigation?
The rules governing pre-action conduct can be found in the pre-action protocols and the Practice Direction on pre-action conduct and protocols (PDPAC). What are Pre Action Protocols? Pre action protocols (PAPs) specify the conduct procedures that parties are expected to follow if involved in a dispute that may lead to litigation in the English courts. Fundamentally, the […]
What are fair redundancy selection criteria?
The role of redundancy selection criteria is absolutely crucial in ensuring that any redundancy process is fair and lawful. The following guide focuses on how to choose and apply the most appropriate redundancy criteria for your company or organisation, including the risks for employers of getting this wrong. Identifying your pool for selection If you […]
Continuous employment: employer guidance
The continuous employment rules can play a crucial role in determining the employment entitlements of your workforce. It is therefore important to understand how these rules work and how they can potentially impact your decision-making when dealing with an employee’s workplace rights and terminating a contract of employment. What is continuous employment? Continuous employment refers […]
New Law Gives Local Authorities Powers To Fine Drivers £130 For Using Cycle Lanes
Drivers can be fined up to £130 for using cycle lanes, under a new law taking effect on 22 June 2020. The new powers, announced by the Cycling Minister Chris Heaton-Harris on 10 June, will see local authorities able to rely on CCTV to issue penalty charge notices to motorists breaking the rules. This includes […]
New Deal Expected To Simplify & Speed Up Planning Process
MPs are said to be considering the introduction of new development zones with relaxed rules and further permitted development (PD) rights as part of a ‘New Deal’ for planning. In a publication launched by the Policy Exchange think tank, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick laid out a vision to “rethink planning” and “speed up and simplify […]
Sunday Trading Rules May Be Relaxed for Supermarkets
Supermarkets may soon be able to open for longer hours under government plans to help boost the post-lockdown economy. Under current rules, supermarkets in England and Wales are only permitted to trade for six consecutive hours between 10am and 6pm. However, new legislation is being drafted which would suspend the current Sunday Trading laws for […]