Blogs

Guidance for employers: facilitating employees’ access to coronavirus tests

While the vast majority of international travel to and from the UK is currently prohibited in order to protect the country from the spread of coronavirus, employees working in certain jobs may qualify for travel exemptions. This includes those whose work regularly takes them abroad, elite sportsper....

Employment tribunal payouts to increase

On 6 April 2021, the statutory limits on certain employment tribunal awards and other amounts payable under employment legislation will increase according to the Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2021. The two main points of note are: The limit on compensatory awards for ‘ordinar....

Kate Garraway stuck in a ‘legal rabbit hole’ without LPA

Over the past year, we have watched the figures mount to shocking levels as increasing numbers of people have lost their lives to the COVID-19 virus. We have previously spoken about the importance of making a Will, to ensure your loved ones are protected should the worst happen. However, television....

How walking can keep our heritage alive during the COVID-19 pandemic

During the coronavirus pandemic, we have seen hundreds of heritage sites, including stately homes across the country, close their doors to the public. With successive lockdowns attempting to stem the spread of the disease, these houses – which serve as such important reminders of our country’s ....

Budget 2021: What employers need to know

In his Budget on Wednesday 3 March – probably one of the most eagerly awaited in many years – Chancellor Rishi Sunak stood before the House of Commons to outline the government’s spending plans for the year ahead. Despite the government’s towering debt – a result of its heavy borrowing in....

Home working won’t end with COVID

Many businesses preparing for the end of lockdown say they won’t end flexible and remote working practices, with firms such as John Lewis Partnership and Metro Bank planning to introduce ‘blended’ and ‘hybrid’ models of working going forwards. A spokesperson for John Lewis said its new wo....

Legal advice for employers as redundancies soar

Recent UK labour market data has revealed that redundancies reached record levels between September and November 2020 – the largest annual decrease in a decade. Meanwhile, February figures show there are now 726,000 less employees on UK payrolls than in February 2020 (although the larger falls oc....

No jab, no job?

In an ITV interview, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland suggested that companies may theoretically be able to turn down job candidates who refuse to get a COVID-19 vaccine, by writing it into their contract as a condition of employment. Firms are taking a stand The comments come after some....

Delayed IR35 changes to be implemented in April

Delayed IR35 changes to be implemented in April Controversial changes to IR35 ‘off-payroll’ tax regulations are finally to go ahead on 6 April 2021, after being postponed due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on businesses. However, a survey undertaken at the beginning of 2021 sh....

London prime property market set for recovery

With the capital in lockdown for the majority of 2020 and many wealthy individuals fleeing the capital in favour of luxurious country houses in which to while away lockdown, it has been a mixed year for the prime London property market. While annual price growth across Greater London reached around....

Uber drivers are workers, says Supreme Court

Uber drivers are to be treated as workers, and not self-employed contractors, according to a ruling handed down on 19 February 2021 by the UK Supreme Court. The decision follows a long-running legal battle between the ride-hailing app and its employees, over workers’ rights such as minimum wage a....

Landlords, remember the Section 17 Notice time window

With businesses continuing to face an uncertain financial future amid during the current lockdown, late rental payments continue to be an unfortunate and regular side-effect of the pandemic. This has had a knock-on effect on landlords’ profits as well, with the government implementing various res....