Statutory Notice Periods: Employers’ Guide
Dismissing employees is part and parcel of running and managing a business. It can also expose employers to considerable legal risk. Not only does the reason for dismissal have to be lawful – such as conduct, performance or due to redundancies – the employee continues to have certain rights and protections throughout the dismissal process […]
Do Interns Need a Visa to Work in the UK?
Under the UK’s immigration rules, non-UK nationals have to have permission to work in the UK, which includes doing an internship, short-term work experience and training. The following guide explains the type of temporary work visa you would need to do an internship in the UK, including the eligibility requirements, the application process, the costs, […]
Care Workers’ Vaccine Rules
Care sector employers are now under a legal obligation to ensure all care home workers in England are fully vaccinated by the cut-off date in 16 weeks. From 11 November 2021, Care Quality Commission-regulated service providers of nursing and personal care services in England must not allow entry into care homes for anyone who has […]
New Mandatory Care Worker Vaccine Law Passed
New legislation requiring care home staff in England to have received the double Covid-19 vaccination comes into force on 11 November 2021. While other industries grapple with the employment, discrimination and even criminal implications of introducing ‘no-jab, no job policies’, the UK government has made the decision for the UK care sector by introducing a […]
How to Introduce Hybrid Working
As employers adapt to the post-pandemic normal, traditional working arrangements are being set aside in favour of greater flexibility in working hours and locations. Hybrid working in particular is becoming increasingly common in UK workplaces. Introducing hybrid working within an organisation, as with any change or variation in working terms or conditions, brings legal considerations […]
Bullied At Work? Advice For Employees
Employees are protected by law from being bullied at work. But it’s not always easy to know what your rights are and how to enforce them. If you are feeling emotionally distressed or professionally vulnerable because of the unwanted discriminatory behaviour of others, you may even get to the point where you feel you have […]
Statutory Guarantee Pay For Lay-Offs
If your business is experiencing reduced demand, you might need to temporarily ask staff to stay at home. Although temporary layoffs are typically only used by employers as a last resort, they offer a temporary reprieve and more preferable alternative to making workers redundant. There are, however, risks associated with laying off staff. There is […]
Can You Delay or Refuse Parental Leave?
As an employer, you will want to encourage a healthy work/life balance for your workforce while also meeting your legal obligations and ensuring time off work for employees does not significantly interfere with the running of your business. The following guide for employers looks at the rules relating to parental leave in the workplace. What […]
Tier 5 Visa For Temporary Workers
The Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) visa is a temporary visa for workers in specific sectors. The jobs covered by a Tier 5 visa are: creative and sporting workers, religious workers, charity workers, seasonal workers, workers under international agreements and government authorised exchange workers. You are only eligible for a Tier 5 visa if you have […]
Government Proposes New Animal Welfare Laws
The UK Government is set to publish a number of new draft animal welfare and protection laws. The proposals include a new Animal Sentience Bill, which would give vertebrate animals the legal right to feel happiness and pain. The new law would recognise ‘sentience’ in animals with a spinal cord, which means they are recognised […]
Hands-Free Driving to be Allowed on UK Roads This Year
‘Self-driving’ cars are set to become legal on roads in the UK by the end of 2021, according to the Government. The Department for Transport has said new legislation is being put forward that will allow hands-free driving using automated lane-keeping systems (ALKS) technology. The current proposal is limited to autonomous cars with ALKS technology […]
Parliament Debates National Security and Investment Bill
The Government could be given new powers to scrutinise and intervene in M&A transactions deemed to raise national security concerns, under a draft Bill currently being debated in the House of Lords. The National Security and Investment Bill would introduce an independent screening regime in the UK where a transaction involving a change of control […]
IR35 Rules Now Apply to Private Sector
Changes to the IR35 rules on off-payroll working have come into force today, affecting medium and large organisations in the private sector that engage contractors. The off-payroll rules, which are already in place for public sector organisations, had been scheduled to be extended to the private sector from 6 April 2020. This date was then […]
COVID Restrictions Easing from 12 April
The government’s test to move to the next stage of the COVID roadmap has been met, meaning further lockdown restrictions will be eased from Monday 12th April 2021, Boris Johnson confirmed in a live Downing Street press conference last night. From next Monday, outdoor hospitality can re-open, along with significant parts of the indoor economy […]
Changes to Motoring Laws from April 2021
New rules affecting UK motorists are due to come into force this year. The Department of Transport confirmed the first of these changes takes effect from today, with a change in car tax rules from 1 April 2021. Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is increasing for less environmentally-friendly cars. The amount of VED due is based […]
Employment Non-Solicitation Clauses FAQs
Non-solicitation clauses are used to prevent employees from taking clients, customers or members of staff with them when they leave an organisation and engaging in direct competition with their old employer. These clauses are a type of restrictive covenant and can appear in an employment contract or a settlement agreement. A non-compete clause, which seeks […]
What is Insolvency?
When financial hardship hits your business, and you are forced to consider closing down, working out what to do next can be overwhelming. Understanding the fundamentals behind what insolvency is, what the process entails and what it means for the future of your business can help you to navigate this complex situation. The process of […]
Age Discrimination in the Workplace (Your Rights)
Age discrimination or ageism in the workplace is a form of unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. Employers are under a legal duty to prevent age discrimination in the workplace. The Equality Act 2010 states individuals must not be discriminated against at work because they are (or are not) a certain age or in […]
Asda Workers Win Latest Round In Equal Pay Battle
The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of 44,000 Asda supermarket workers in the latest stage of their equal pay challenge. Asda store workers are arguing they are being paid less because most store workers are women, while most distribution depot staff are men. The court upheld previous rulings that lower paid shop workers are […]
UK & EU Agree Financial Services Deal
The UK and EU have come to an agreement on post-Brexit financial services regulations. In a statement on 26 March 2021, HM Treasury announced the deal, which would see a new regulatory forum being created between the UK and the EU. The forum will comprise a minister from the UK and their equivalent from the […]