It is that time of year again when the government announces the annual increase in statutory payment rates. The following increased rates will therefore apply from 6 April 2014. Statutory Sick Pay (“SSP”) This will increase from £86.70 to £87.55 a week*. Statutory Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Pay The Read more…
This month’s Commercial Property update looks at the key features of the law that governs work on a party wall. It summarises the steps for existing walls, new walls and excavation works. It also explains the consequences of failing to follow the correct procedures. What is a party wall? The Read more…
An employer’s duty to make reasonable adjustments for a disabled employee only arises where the employer knows or is reasonably expected to know that the employee has a disability. Assessing whether an employee is disabled can be difficult, particularly in a case of mental illness. In the recent Court of Read more…
Employment laws have changed in 2013. At our recent Annual Employment Law Review, we updated HR professionals on the key changes to legislation, and gave an insight into what they can expect in 2014. Here is a summary of the key points discussed but if you would like to see Read more…
This month’s Commercial Property update explains what a side letter is and the circumstances in which a side letter may be used. What is a side letter? A side letter is a document that is ancillary to another contract. The key question whenever the content or effect of a side Read more…
As has been widely publicised in the media, new rights are due to be introduced by the Government allowing parents to share a period of parental leave following the birth of their child, which is envisaged to take effect from April 2015. Parents will be able to choose to share up to Read more…
Ever been in a situation where you are expecting a Tribunal claim from a troublesome former employee and you have a date three months less one day after dismissal circled in your calendar? Well the case of Robinson v Bowskill and ors is a recent Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) case Read more…
The Ministry of Justice has published its “provisional management information” showing receipt of Employment Tribunal claims up to September 2013, in light of Employment Tribunal fees now being in effect for all claims issued after 29 July 2013. It was envisaged that there would be a surge in claims in Read more…
This month’s update sets out the exemptions from business rates for non-domestic properties. Retail property Retail properties enjoy 100% relief for a continuous period of three months only. Changes of ownership during the three-month period do not trigger a fresh three-month exemption. The exemption applies to the property, not the Read more…
It has recently been announced that from April 2014, Tribunals will have the power to order employers who lose a tribunal claim to pay a financial penalty of up to £5,000. This will not however be an automatic penalty for a losing employer. Instead, the Tribunal will have discretion to Read more…