New Offences Introduced Under New Online Safety Bill
The government has made a number of additions to the Online Safety Bill that will see more online behaviour being made illegal. A press release issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport on 4 February 2022 details three additional criminal offences that will be introduced to the Bill, as proposed by the […]
New Heirarchy of Road Users from 29 January 2022
A number of changes to the Highway Code will take effect from 29 January 2022. Among the new rules, a hierarchy of road users is being introduced which places more responsibility on drivers of larger vehicles to look after vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians. The updated code states: “Those in charge of […]
When does overtime become contractual?
Overtime rules are not always straightforward, but it’s important for employers and managers to have a clear understanding to avoid workforce issues. The question ‘When does overtime become contractual?’ is one that commonly arises within a number of different employment contexts, from whether an employer has the right to insist on an employee working additional […]
Employment case law update December 2021
Read on for our monthly digest for employers on upcoming employment law changes and key employment cases that have recently been decided. Mandatory COVID vaccination & fair dismissal Ms C Allette v Scarsdale Grange Nursing Home Limited This is an unfair and wrongful dismissal claim arising from the summary dismissal of the claimant, Ms C […]
HR Glossary
Commonly-used HR phrases, words and terms explained. A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | […]
Rules for suspending an employee
In some circumstances, suspending an employee may be unavoidable. Suspension could be due to health and safety or medical issues such as pregnancy, or more commonly, while a serious disciplinary matter is being investigated. In this guide for employers, line managers and HR personnel, we discuss the key considerations when suspending employees as part of […]
Law Allowing Video-Witnessed Wills Extended to 2024
Vulnerable people across England and Wales will continue to be able to have their wills witnessed via video-link up until 2024, under legislation extending temporary pandemic measures. The change was announced yesterday by Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Dominic Raab, who stated “this is a common-sense measure that will […]
Government Unveils Plans to Protect Leaseholders and Make Property Developers Pay for Cladding Crisis
Property developers will be forced to cover the cost of removing dangerous cladding from buildings taller than 11 metres, under new plans announced by the Levelling Up Secretary, Michael Gove. In a letter to the residential property development industry on 10 January 2022, Mr Gove set out the government’s new approach to building safety aimed […]
Employment case law update November 2021
Read on for our monthly digest for employers on upcoming employment law changes and key employment cases that have recently been decided. Wrongful dismissal Hovis Limited v Louton The claimant, Mr Louton, worked for Hovis as a delivery lorry driver. It was reported by one of the company’s managers (Mr Sittre) that he and his […]
Guide to Extending Your Lease
If you own a residential property on a leasehold basis, there are many reasons why you may be considering extending your lease. In most cases, the shorter the amount of time remaining on the leasehold, the lower the value of the lease becomes, and the more you will have to pay to increase the term […]
Supreme Court Rules in favour of Google in iPhone “Secret Tracking” Case
The Supreme Court has rejected a claim against Google that the company misused web browsing data of iPhone users in the UK. The claim was brought by former director of consumer group Which?, Richard Lloyd. He claimed that the tech giant had “secretly” collected user web browsing data between 2011 and 2012 from the Safari […]
Deed of Covenant on a Leasehold Property?
Buying a leasehold flat can often be more complex than buying a freehold property. The addition of a third party, ie; the freeholder or landlord, in the conveyancing process means that there are various extra documentary requirements involved, typically including the requirement to sign a deed of covenant. The following guide looks at deeds of […]
New Motoring Rules From November
This month sees the following changes in UK motoring laws. Driving licence COVID extensions ending Under coronavirus provisions, driving licences that were due to expire between 1 February 2020 and 31 December 2020 were given an automatic 11-month extension. This month sees the last of the automatic driving licence extensions granted under this temporary rule. […]
Collective Enfranchisement to Buy Flat Freehold
Owning a long residential lease can be a valuable asset although, as the lease term decreases over time, so too can the value of your flat. However, together with other owner-occupiers, you may have the right to collectively purchase the freehold of your building. In this guide, we explain the collective enfranchisement process for buying […]
UK Removes Remainder of Countries from Travel Red List
In an announcement on 28 October, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed that the remaining countries on the UK’s travel ‘red list’ were being removed from Monday 1 November 2021. Changes to the red list follow the recent relaxation of requirements for travellers arriving into the UK in a bid to boost the travel industry and […]
Employment case law update October 2021
Read on for our monthly digest for employers on upcoming employment law changes and key employment cases that have recently been decided. Unfair dismissal Mrs A Rodin v Dhillons Management Services Limited The claimant was employed by DMS1, an HR supplier now known as Dhillons Management Services. It was unclear when her employment with the […]
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 […]