Teletext Holidays Faces Legal Action Over Customer Refunds
The owners of Teletext Holidays are facing legal action from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for failure to lawfully process customer refunds. As the competition regulator, the CMA is alleging that Truly Holdings, Teletext Holidays’ parent company, is acting illegally by making customers wait for payouts on refunds. This is the first time the […]
How to spot a fake sick note
If you’ve been given a fit note by an employee and you’re not sure if it is genuine, would you know what to do? Employers should be prepared and trained to know how to deal with employees suspected of pulling sickies or exaggerating illness symptoms. It’s useful for managers and HR teams to be able […]
How to tackle employee burnout
Knowing how to spot and prevent employee burnout could not only help to improve productivity for your business but also avoid the temporary or permanent loss of a valuable member of staff due to work-related stress. In this guide for employers, we look at what employee burnout actually means and how to spot the signs. […]
CMA Closes Investigation into Airline COVID Refund Policies
The UK’s competition watchdog has closed its investigation into British Airways and Ryanair’s COVID refund policies. In response to concerns that the two airlines may have broken the law by failing to offer refunds for flights that customers could not legally take during periods of lockdown, an investigation was launched by the Competition & Markets […]
HGV Driver Temporary Concession
A new immigration route has opened allowing non-UK HGV drivers to come to Britain to work on a temporary basis. The HGV driver temporary concession applies to fuel tanker drivers from non-visa national countries coming to the UK between 1 October 2021 and 15 October 2021. Eligible individuals can request to enter the UK border […]
Can You Make An Unfair Dismissal Claim?
As an employee, you have the right not to be dismissed unfairly. This means employers have to follow the correct procedure, or you may be eligible to make an unfair dismissal claim for compensation. A dismissal could be deemed unfair if the employee was dismissed for a reason which was not fair, if the employer […]
Temporary Visa Scheme for HGV Drivers & Poultry Workers
The UK is to make thousands of emergency temporary work visas available to address critical labour shortages in the haulage and food processing industries. Under the temporary visa scheme announced by the Government, a total of 10,500 three-month work permits will be issued by the Home Office, in an attempt to ‘save Christmas’ for Britains. […]
Can you sack someone on sick leave?
As an employer, the law says you can sack someone on sick leave but you must have good reason and follow a fair dismissal procedure, or you risk costly employment tribunal claims. In this guide for HR, managers and employers, we explain the rules on sickness absence dismissals and share best practice advice on how […]
Employment case law update September 2021
Read on for our monthly digest for employers on upcoming employment law changes and key employment cases that have recently been decided. Furlough & unfair redundancy dismissal Mhindurwa v Lovingangels Care The employee was a live-in care assistant for a sole elderly client. During the first lockdown in 2020, the client moved to live in […]
Workers May Be Given Right to Request Flexible Working From ‘Day 1’
UK workers could be given the right to request flexible working from their first day of employment, under new government proposals. The BBC has reported that the government is launching a consultation into the proposals over the coming days. Under the proposals, workers could become able to make a statutory request for flexible working from […]
US Travel Ban Lifting For Fully Vaccinated Travelers from UK & EU
The United States has confirmed it will be easing travel restrictions for certain foreign nationals who have received the COVID double vaccination. From early November, fully vaccinated adult travellers from the UK, the 26 European Schengen countries, Ireland, China, Iran, Brazil, South Africa and India will no longer be subject to the travel ban. Travellers […]
Self Employed Mortgage Guide
One of the downsides of having your own business is that applying for a mortgage can seem a more challenging process than if you were employed. The following guidance looks at the key criteria for getting a self employed mortgage, including which documentation you will need to show to potential lenders and the steps you […]
‘Unlawful’ Mandatory COVID Vaccine Law Challenged By Care Home Workers
Care home workers are taking legal action against the UK government to overturn the mandatory COVID vaccine law. Two care home staff are pursuing a Judicial Review challenging the amendment to ‘The Health and Social Care Act 2008’ which will prevent individuals from entering a care home after 11 November 2021, unless they have been […]
New Legal Duty on Funeral Firms to Give Consumers Clear Pricing
A new legal duty is now in force requiring funeral directors and crematorium operators to provide clear pricing of their products and services to grieving families. The Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has issued new guidance obligating service providers in the funeral industry to take steps to ensure their pricing for consumers information is clear […]
Broadcasters To Make “Distinctively British” TV Shows Under New Proposals
Broadcasters in the UK may soon be legally required to produce content that is “distinctively British”, according to Media Minister John Whittingdale. Speaking at a Royal Television Society conference, Mr Whittingdale cited programmes such as the Great British Bake Off, Dr Who and Downton Abbey which had achieved global success while still reflecting “Britain and […]
Employment tribunal costs for employers
If a workplace dispute cannot be resolved, employers may be forced to defend a claim before the employment tribunal. By understanding how the tribunal process works, including the steps involved and potential outcomes, employers can assess the most cost-effective way of dealing with an unresolved dispute while managing the employment tribunal costs that come with […]
Redeployment rights & redundancy
During the redundancy process, one of the requirements on the employer is to explore all suitable alternatives to making someone redundant. This could include considering options to redeploy the worker to a different role or a different part of the organisation. Redeployment, however, a complex area of the redundancy process, and employers must approach this […]
Employer vicarious liability rules
By law, employers can be held vicariously liable for certain acts of their employees. This means even where the employer has itself technically done no wrong, it can still be found responsible for employees’ actions and made to financially compensate the victim of the wrongdoing. The rationale behind the employer vicarious liability rules is to […]
New Children’s Privacy Design Code In Force
A new data protection code has taken effect in the UK designed to restrict and monitor online services accessed and used by children. The Age Appropriate Design Code, also referred to as the Children’s code, has been introduced by the UK ICO to make the internet a “better and safer place for children”. The code […]
One Month Countdown to End of Furlough Scheme
Employers currently claiming furlough support have only one month left until the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme closes. Government financial contributions towards furloughed workers’ wages are due to end on 30 September 2021, when employers will be required to resume full responsibility for workers’ wages. During September, the government will contribute 60% of wages up to […]