Articles

The UK’s Electronic Communications Code (ECC) has been updated a number of times in recent months, to support the government’s broadband ambitions. The 2017 Electronic Communications Code came into force on the 28th December 2017, giving telecommunications operators statutory rights to install and operate electronic communications apparatus on, under or over land in connection with the provision of their network.

A recent study has found that last year employees In the UK worked the equivalent of £32 billion worth of unpaid overtime. In working hours this equates to over 2 billion hours of overtime. Whilst sitting down to write this at home after a day at work, this is hardly surprising.

Employee wellbeing is not a new phenomenon, but the recent increase in awareness and publicity surrounding the matter has forced employers to act. The provision of rest breaks, flexible start and finish times and working environments are all under scrutiny but what does the law state?

Managers are often promoted because they are excelling in their role. It may be argued that excelling within a role does not automatically make you an excellent leader.

If you believe you are at the heart of an equal pay issue, in the first instance you need to determine whether the issue is in fact and equal pay or gender pay. These are two very different issues within the workplace, but both could be grounds to make a claim.

More often than not, to buy a house, you will require a deposit. The ability to evidence where this money has come from is a crucial part of the purchase process and an inability to do so can be very problematic.

In June 2016, the UK referendum on EU membership was taken and the UK voted, by a narrow margin, to exit the EU. On the 29th March 2017, the UK Government served formal notice under Article 50 of The Treaty on European Union to terminate the UK’s membership of the EU.

Have the winter blues got you thinking about planning your summer getaway? With January finally out of the way, weekend plans are filling up and many families are turning their attention towards this year’s summer holidays.

As part of an unfair dismissal case, an employment tribunal is having to decide whether or not ethical veganism can be classified as a religion and is thus protected by the 2010 Equality Act.

Employment Laws are in place to protect both employers and employees in the workplace. The laws govern what employers can expect from employees, what employers can ask employees to do and the employees’ rights at work.

8 months since the new GDPR regulations were enforced, Google has been hit with a £44m fine over their breach of the rules. Google are the first tech giant to be fined to such an extent, but this is not surprising when you consider that they are one of the biggest handlers and processors of personal data.

With more snow and ice expected fall over the weekend, our Employment Team have looked at some of the questions frequently asked in relation to the impact the weather can have on getting to work.

A study by experts at the Centre for Social Investigation at Nuffield College, University of Oxford reviewed the applications of 3,200 individuals and compared call backs across a number of industries and application arenas.

A revolutionary case could alter the rules surrounding the timescale employers have in providing their employees with a written statement of their terms and conditions of work. It is believed that the impact will be more for those with a high turnover of staff and will require greater organisation from HR departments.

James Haworth, Head of Family Law at Lawson-West Solicitors reflects on the events of 2018, what we learned and how they will shape Divorce Law in the year ahead.

‘It was just a bit of banter’ is a phrase often banded around the workplace, but when does a bit of banter become something more serious? Many people consider the term to imply that something offensive has been said or done whilst others consider it to be playful and jokey.

The new year is full of resolutions and everyone is keen to get themselves organised and cross off jobs they have been putting off. An important one that doesn't take a lot of effort and is extremely worthwhile going is getting your will written if it isn’t already.

The law states that an individual has been unfairly dismissed if it is as a result of an ‘automatically unfair’ reason or discrimination. An employer can dismiss an individual and if the individual deems it to be unfair, they can challenge it.

The second attack against government’s plans to introduce a sliding scale for probate fees has been lobbied by a parliamentary committee, laying claim that the Lord Chancellor is acting beyond his powers with the new strategy.

The countdown to Christmas is in full swing and the excitement is mounting both at home and at work. For most, Christmas means a few days off from work celebrating with friends and family but for the employer this can be a logistical nightmare with cover to organise, parties to prepare for and a workplace to keep happy.

Lawson-West Solicitors are delighted to have appointed two well-deserving employees with Associate Status. Associates are appointed on an annual basis by the firm’s Board of Directors to recognise an individual’s commitment to their role and the firm.

The recent #MeToo movement has exposed an ever-deepening headline of sexual harassment in the work place, spanning across all industries. Google announced recently it has sacked 48 people, including 13 senior managers, over sexual harassment claims in the past two years.

Whether a company is in the private or public sector, whistle-blowers are actively encouraged to speak out and expose organisations if they are acting in a way that is deemed either illegal or unethical.

The Government have posted a “Written Statement to Parliament”, announcing a change to the Probate Fee System from a simple fee of £155 (with solicitors), or £215 (without solicitors), to a banded system. This system was proposed last year, and a petition opposing it amassed 38,425 signatures, before being closed due to the upcoming general election. It seems this change has now been approved

Senior Banker whose job was marginalised whilst on Maternity leave wins tribunal.

A senior banker at Commerzbank’s London markets has won a case that claimed sex discrimination, maternity discrimination and harassment at London Central Employment Tribunal.

We should all be aware what a letter of resignation is but are you aware of whether it is required or not? A letter of resignation is when an employee decides to terminate their contract of employment with their employer. There are no legal requirements setting out what a letter of resignation must or must not include, or if one is required to end employment but it is strongly advised that it is clear and unambiguous.

The loss of a child is one of the remaining taboos between friends, family and certainly in the workplace. Early miscarriage often passes completely unbeknown to all but the closest of friends. Later miscarriage, although physically noticeable, will go unspoken. However, the pain that the parents suffer during this time is rarely acknowledged by those around them.

Lawson-West Solicitors are thrilled to be involved with the Leicester Business Festival 2018, the region’s largest business event. The Leicester Business Festival is an annual, two-week festival incorporating hundreds of free business events staged by local organisations within the local vicinity.

You may have heard the terms “Will” and “Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)”, or “Executor” and “Attorney” be used interchangeably, but they are actually very different things. It is important to distinguish between them, as they are both significant documents that provide for your wishes at different stages of your life.

Separating isn’t a decision that is taken lightly. Whether it was your decision or your partner’s you’re still likely to experience a rollercoaster of emotions. Married or not the consequences can be equally difficult.

The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on Friday 29th March 2019 and negotiations about the future relations between the UK and the EU are currently underway. Trade, travel and security are the main items on the agenda and it is hoped that an agreement on how these areas will be managed post-Brexit will soon be reached.

Have you ever thought about the different words used to describe death? I have heard lots of expressions used, from “passed away” and “lost” all the way to “kicked the bucket” and “popped their clogs”. People often use these phrases to avoid saying the word “death” in the hope it will make the idea more palatable, or easier to comprehend.

It is with excitement and delight that Lawson-West Solicitors, Market Harborough & Brown & Company Solicitors announce their joining together to form Lawson-West Solicitors incorporating Brown & Company.

Negotiating contracts is routine practice for any business, it is important that they are documented correctly and cover the key issues you require them to, to avoid any future complications or disputes. This article addresses all types of contracts and provides an overview on the key aspects to think about when negotiating any kind of contract.

The Government has announced plans to reform divorce laws, something that hasn’t been updated in 50 years despite colossal changes in modern society. In the past 50 years there has been a sharp rise in the number of marriages ending in divorce and the process is often unpleasant for those involved. Considered ‘archaic’ the reform is being welcomed by many.

In 2017 the Government published a bill to offer two weeks’ paid leave for bereaved parents. And this week, the Parental Bereavement (Pay and Leave) Act 2018, introduced by Kevin Hollinrake, MP, received royal assent.

Working in Britain compared to other countries typically means working long days, carrying out demanding tasks and taking breaks that are few and far between. Working life can be tough, often leaving us feeling exhausted, deflated and lacking in motivation.

It is considered that individuals doing the same job or work of equal value should receive the same or equal pay; but in many cases they do not, despite the law saying otherwise. Shockingly this is the case with the 1,000 current and former employees of Tesco who back in July 2018 lodged claims to the Employment Tribunal for equal pay.

Introduced in 2017, the Gender Pay Gap Report requires by law, employers in Great Britain with 250 employees or more to publish certain information regarding the pay of males and females in their organisation. The aim of the scheme is to reduce the pay gap between genders and in time achieve equal pay throughout

A break clause is a clause in a fixed period lease providing both the tenant and the landlord with the option to end the lease early. As a tenant this can be extremely useful, particularly if it is a new business venture or a new branch being opened. A break clause permits a tenant to walk away from the premises if it transpires it is no longer a viable option to maintain.

The HMRC recently challenged the working status of around 60 top level football referees who officiate over the matches between professional teams playing in leagues below the English Premier League. These Level 1 referees typically receive match fees worth hundreds of pounds and in some cases, totalling an annual income around £10,000.

Defining the role of an au pair, should in theory be relatively easy. Au Pairs are usually individuals from another EU Country, who come to help with either the housework or childcare duties for a family, working between 25 to 30 hours a week in exchange for a live-in room and board, as well as “pocket money”.

The recent case regarding an unmarried mother of four’s right to receive this allowance has highlighted the difference in the rights of cohabiting, unmarried couples compared to those of couples who are married or in a civil partnership.

Employers can dismiss people, however as the case in thisarticle shows, the employer must have strong evidence and reason before dismissing an employee, but how can you check if your dismissal was unfair?

Domestic abuse may take place behind closed doors, but it has far reaching consequences and is known to have a detrimental impact on the working lives of those living in such circumstances. The scale of the problem is huge. In the UK, in any one year, more than one in five victims of domestic violence take time off work because of abuse and two per cent lose their jobs as a direct result of the abuse.

Employment tribunal claims spike whilst refunds remain unpaid.
One year on from the Supreme Court ruling to scrap employment tribunal fees, the number of people considering bringing an employment issue to tribunal has risen by 30%, whilst 80% of tribunal fee refunds remain unpaid.

Following two European harassment cases that resulted in compensation being awarded, what constitutes as harassment in the work place?

A recent announcement means that judges will no longer have to be consulted to withdraw the treatment of a minimally conscious patient if both the patients’ family and the patient’s medical professionals are all in agreement. This decision has been a long time coming with people both for and against the decision.

All workers are entitled to take holiday and must be paid the same amount of pay whilst on holiday as they usually would, had they been at work. Holiday pay must include overtime, bonuses and commission if they usually make up part of someone’s normal weekly pay.

The government has published a whitepaper, entitled “the Future Relationship Between the UK and the European Union”, in which it is proposed that there be no regression in the UK’s employment laws following its exit from the European Union.