Hall & Preddy: Homosexual Rights Landmark Decision
Hall & Preddy v Bull is a landmark case in the UK dealing with homosexual rights and unlawful sexual orientation discrimination. Facts of the case On 4th September 2008, Mr Preddy booked a double room for himself and his civil partner, Mr Hall, at a private hotel in Cornwall run by Mr and Mrs Bull. […]
How Does Divorce Affect Your Pension?
When it comes to divorce or civil partnership dissolution, all financial assets have to be put out in the open, and this includes all pensions you and your ex-partner have built up. Pensions are a valuable asset, particularly for older people who have amassed sizeable funds, so it will be vital to understand how they will […]
What is Freedom of Speech in the UK?
Freedom of speech forms a fundamental part of our democracy. The UK public and press enjoy some of the greatest freedoms of anyone in the world to express their opinions and ideas. The following guide on the rules relating to freedom of speech in the UK examines the legal basis of this right, including the […]
Current Law on Squatting
What is squatting? Squatting is where someone has entered a property without first obtaining permission from the owner, and then stays there, or intends to stay there. The current law on squatting varies, depending on whether the building or land being occupied is residential or non-residential. Squatting in a residential property In 2012, it became […]
Gagging Orders: Everything You Need to Know
What are gagging orders? A gagging order, or non-disclosure order, is a type of injunction used to protect the someone’s right to privacy and confidentiality. It is issued by the court, usually on an interim basis pending a full hearing of the legal and factual issues, to restrict the publication and dissemination of private or […]
Death Penalty: A History of UK Capital Punishment
A History of Capital Punishment in the UK Capital punishment, the use of the death penalty by the state, originated in the Anglo-Saxon era and continued until 1965 when the death penalty was abolished. Initially, the primary way to carry out the sentence was by a primitive form of hanging, placing a noose around the […]
Guide to UK Obscenity Laws
The obscenity laws in the UK are not limited to a single piece of legislation, nor indeed any one criminal offence. Following the introduction of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 — the first statute to criminalise the publication of obscene material — there are now a number of obscenity-related offences under several different pieces of […]
How to Get a Non Molestation Order
For victims of domestic abuse, a non molestation order can be used to prevent your abuser from harassing you further. In this article, we explain how to apply to court to get a non molestation order and what to do if you need to make an emergency application. What is a non molestation order? A […]
Short Term Study Visa (Learn English in the UK)
The short term study visa is an immigration route specifically designed for students aged 16 or over wanting to undertake an English language course in the UK of between 6 to 11 months at an accredited institution. The rules relating to short term study visas are set out under Appendix Short-term Student (English language) of […]
Failure to make reasonable adjustments
A failure to make reasonable adjustments refers to a breach of the employer’s duty to ensure that workers and applicants are not substantially disadvantaged in carrying out or applying for a job because of a disability when compared with people who do not have a disability. This is a statutory duty that most employers are […]
Frontier Workers Permit: Work in the UK, Live Overseas
The UK’s new immigration system has impacted the status of frontier workers, requiring some to apply for a Frontier Worker permit. Eligible frontier workers may continue to work in the UK as a frontier worker without an additional visa or permit for these activities until June 30, 2021. Beginning July 1, 2021, they will require […]
Employee stealing from work?
If you suspect an employee stealing from work or misusing company property without permission, it is likely to come as a shock. Any action you take in response to stealing from work must be fully considered and based on factual evidence to avoid falling foul of legal issues. It is also likely you will have […]
Tier 2 General Visa Guide
The Tier 2 (General) visa is now closed to new applicants, and has been replaced by the Skilled Worker route. This article relates to the requirements for the old Tier 2 visa. If you are making a new visa application, you should apply under the Skilled Worker route. What is the Tier 2 (General) Visa? […]
Treated Unfairly At Work: What Are Your Rights?
What should you do if you are being treated unfairly at work? In most cases, employees will be expected to try to resolve issues informally with their employer first. But what does this mean, and what are your rights and legal options if you want to make a complaint about unfair treatment in the workplace? […]
False accusations at work: HR help
Employers are required by law to deal with complaints or grievances at work fairly and lawfully. Handling such issues, however, becomes further complicated if you suspect the employee may be making a false allegation. False accusations at work can relate to any kind of untrue claim of wrongdoing made by an employee. While some accusers […]
Bringing the company into disrepute
For the most part, employees’ work and personal lives coexist harmoniously side by side. However, there are occasions when an employee’s behaviour or conduct outside of work may be considered to be sufficiently unacceptable to be damaging to the employer’s own reputation. In such situations, the employee can be said to be bringing the company […]
What is a protected disclosure?
Whether an employee’s complaint is classed as a protected disclosure is critical to determine if they are protected as a whistleblower. By understanding the meaning of a protected disclosure within the context of whistleblowing, this can help employers to respond appropriately to employee concerns and complaints about any wrongdoing at work without falling foul of […]
Dealing with allegations of managers bullying team members
Employees are protected by law from bullying. Yet bullying in the workplace is most commonly cited as coming from those in a position of seniority such as managers. What should an employer do if a manager is being accused of bullying at work? What do we mean by bullying at work? There is no legal […]
Drug testing in the workplace
Drug-testing in the workplace can often be a difficult and daunting issue for employers and HR personnel to handle, where it is important to strike a balance between the individual rights of your employees with the health and safety of your workforce and the wider public. Below we look at the rules relating to drug […]
Dealing with a malicious grievance
Being on the receiving end of a complaint at work can be an extremely stressful and worrying time, especially where the grievance raised is vexatious, malicious and deliberately intended to make life difficult for you. Below we look at how to deal with a malicious grievance at work, either as an employer or senior employee, […]