News - Wedlake Bell

News

Appraisals – common pitfalls and challenges

We have all had that feeling around appraisal season. Everything seems fine so why waste time when we have work to get on with? However, with many employees still working … Read more →

Bulletins

2022 – Employment law changes and trends

The Government has engaged in a number of consultations considering fundamental changes to employment law. With the ongoing pandemic, many consultations have stalled, but if they are concluded (and there … Read more →

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2021 Employment Law – A Year in Reflection

Like 2020, 2021 remained one that (for the right or wrong reasons) will long stick in the memory. The start and end of 2021 saw rising COVID infections and work … Read more →

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Home Is Where the Workplace Is

On 19 July 2021, the government removed guidance that recommended that workers based in England should continue to work from home where they can. For some, a return to the … Read more →

A Failure To Train And Retrain Can Lead To Vicarious Liability In Discrimination Claims

Discrimination in the workplace is a “virus”. In a recent case, the EAT uses a Coronavirus analogy to clarify the meaning of “all reasonable steps” for the purposes of the … Read more →

News

Jabs and jobs; a legal analysis

Outlining the risk The number of people in the UK that have received the Covid-19 vaccine is now over 12 million. As the number rises, employers may wish to keep … Read more →

News

CHANGES TO THE IR35 RULES : THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

What is IR35? The IR35 regime was introduced in order to clamp down on a specific form of tax avoidance by individuals who supply their services through an intermediary, such … Read more →

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Employment law – changes and trends for the start of 2021

Despite the COVID-19 crisis significantly impacting the ability of many businesses to plan with certainty, there remain a number of key employment changes and challenges which need to be addressed … Read more →

News

COVID-19 UPDATE

Extension of Furlough Scheme and postponement of Job Support Scheme Following the government’s announcement of a second nationwide lockdown (5 November 2020 to 2 December 2020), the Coronavirus Job Retention … Read more →

News

COVID-19 Update

The Job Support Scheme – 1 November 2020 The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“CJRS”) will officially end on 31 October 2020. However, with rising COVID-19 infections and further government social … Read more →

News

Employment contracts: changes coming into force on Monday 6 April 2020

The impact of COVID-19 on business means that the thought of new hires is the furthest thing from most employers’ minds. However, changes are coming into force that will impact … Read more →

News

Coronavirus – How can our People Services team help your business with the challenges it is facing?

Employers are facing an unprecedented set of circumstances as Covid-19 sweeps the country. Whilst the primary objective is, and should be, to halt the spread of the virus and to … Read more →

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Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) – “viral” consequences for business.

The spread of the virus is not limited to the appalling consequences faced by (now) millions of people who are either very seriously ill, sick, trapped, locked-down and/or extremely anxious.… Read more →

News

Coronavirus

Coronavirus – considerations for business The number of reported cases of COVID-19, more commonly known as the ‘coronavirus’ continues to increase. A recent newspaper report stated that in a document … Read more →

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Top issues to consider when relocating employees

In a speech to the Royal Television Society Cambridge Convention, director general of the BBC Tony Hall outlined his vision for increasing the broadcaster’s geographical diversity. The plan includes relocating … Read more →

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Should you use AI to tackle workplace harassment?

Post #MeToo, employers have become increasingly focused on tackling harassment. In fact, it was recently reported that some companies are implementing monitoring software that uses AI to detect online harassment … Read more →

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Employment law – what to look forward to in 2020

With Brexit looming and an increased focus on the domestic agenda, 2020 promises an upturn in new legislation. Here we look ahead to the most likely key changes: 1. Off-payroll … Read more →

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Social Corporate Responsibility- how easy is it to impose change?

Intelligent Facility Solutions has reportedly agreed to ban all single-use plastics from the office, after consultation with staff, and to make this commitment an express term of its employment contract. It … Read more →

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Discrimination Update: Vegetarianism is not a protected characteristic

In Conisbee v Crossley Farms Ltd, the Employment Tribunal held that vegetarianism does not amount to a philosophical belief and therefore does not qualify for protection under the Equality Act … Read more →

News

New Limits – Update: National Living Wage, National Minimum Wage and Compensation Limits

The government has announced the new rates and limits which will be introduced from April 2019 in relation to the National Living Wage, National Minimum Wage and the employment compensation … Read more →

Brexit

Brexit Checklist

Are you ready? Brexit is going to impact on our laws. It is too early to know what the repercussions will be but it is certain that there will be … Read more →

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The Good Work Plan

It has been trailed by the Government as the most important package of employment rights for a generation. Whilst it does contain a number of actual and potential new measures,… Read more →

Autumn Budget 2018- Key Actions for Employers

As part of the government’s budget announcement, it has proposed a number of key measures which are likely to impact employers: Worker status – changes to IR35 rules; National Living … Read more →

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Harassment claims – protecting your business

What is harassment? The legal definition of harassment is very wide. Harassment can be on grounds of sex, race or a number of other protected characteristics. The law also specifically … Read more →

Episode 2: Liability for harassment – Protecting your organisation

In this podcast, Adam Grant and Blair Adams, Partners in our Employment Team, explain how anti-harassment training can protect employers from liability, and discuss the best approach to confidentiality provisions … Read more →

News

Joint employer concept to be tested in High Court – Adam Grant & Blair Adams comments were published in Personnel Today

This article was orginally published by Personnel Today. In a case that could open the door for more than 3 million outsourced workers to negotiate directly with their de facto … Read more →

Dress down for work as the heatwave continues – Adam Grant comments for the times

This article was originally published by The Times. Older readers might remember the excitement when “dress down Fridays” arrived in London law firms in the wake of west coast tech … Read more →

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Summer holidays – common problems for employers

As school terms end and the recent heat wave continues workers now turn their attention to their summer break. As we enter this peak holiday season we examine some of … Read more →

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TERMINATION PAYMENTS – THE NEW TAX RULES

New rules come into force on 6 April 2018 that will affect how termination payments are taxed and whether an employee can benefit from the £30,000 tax exemption. The overall … Read more →

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Update: National Living Wage, National Minimum Wage and Compensation Limits

The government has announced the new rates and limits which will be introduced from April 2018 in relation to the National Living Wage, National Minimum Wage and employment compensation limits.… Read more →

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Action plans for dealing with allegations of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct

A cultural shift appears to be underway in the public perception of sexual harassment and misconduct and the treatment of those making accusations. The exposure of allegations against prominent media … Read more →

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Employers criticised over gender pay gap reports

Fewer than 6% of organisations have submitted their gender pay information ahead of the 5 April 2018 deadline, according to a Financial Times report on 7 January 2018. Employers in … Read more →

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Employment Update – Festive Season: Employer Checklist

The festive season is now upon us. It offers a wonderful opportunity to reward staff and to catch up with colleagues and clients in a more relaxed atmosphere as people … Read more →

News

How harassment escapes justice

“Employers should provide clear avenues for complaint in a sexual harassment policy, with alternatives in case the harasser should be in management.” Adam Grant, our Head of Employment, was … Read more →

Bulletins

Employment Tribunal Fees are unlawful

In a monumental decision handed down today, the Supreme Court has found that the current Employment Tribunal fees regime (Fees Regime) is unlawful. The immediate consequence is that the Fees … Read more →

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Sexual harassment in the workplace: Uber media outcry alerts employers to cut the risk

Sexual harassment in the workplace is in the spotlight after widespread publicity of claims by a former employee at technology firm Uber. Adam Grant and Jemma Pugh at legal firm … Read more →

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Roundtable: employment

At the forefront of everyone’s mind, Wedlake Bell’s head of employment Adam Grant notes, is leaving the EU and what it will mean for workers across the divide. ‘We’ve got … Read more →

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National Minimum Wage: new rates

Worker category Minimum wage per hour (1 October 2016 to 31 March 2017) Minimum wage per hour (from 1 April 2017) National living wage (workers aged 25 and over)… Read more →

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Employment compensation limits: new rates

Type of compensation Before 6 April 2017 From 6 April 2017 Limit on a week’s pay for calculating (i) statutory redundancy and (ii) the unfair dismissal basic award £479 £489 … Read more →

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Last orders? Banning drinking during working hours

Lloyds’ decision to ban drinking during work hours has drawn much attention, but what is the law? Lloyds’ recent decision to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to drinking during working hours … Read more →

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Sexual harassment in the workplace: beyond a joke?

A recent survey by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) shows that sexual harassment in the workplace is widespread despite legislation outlawing it. Adam Grant and Jemma Pugh offer tips on … Read more →

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Brexit – Implications for employees

This article outlines the possible implications on employment rights if and when the UK leaves the EU. Employment legislation A number of key employment rights derive from EU legislation, in … Read more →

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EU referendum (should we stay or should we go?) – Employment implications

On Thursday, 23rd June 2016, the public will determine whether the United Kingdom remains in the European Union. A lot has been written and said by the ‘Brexit’ and ‘Bremain’… Read more →

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“Brexit” and UK employment law – What are the implications?

On Thursday, 23rd June 2016, the public will determine whether the United Kingdom (‘UK’) remains in the European Union (‘EU’). A lot has been written and said by the ‘Brexit’… Read more →

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A spring clean – important rate changes in April 2016

April 2016 sees a number of important changes to employment rates with the introduction of the National Living Wage (‘NLW’) and increases to compensation and redundancy limits. 1. National Living … Read more →

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Modern Slavery Act 2015 – transparency in supply chains

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 (“the Act”) consolidates and updates protections against human trafficking and slavery. Although wide ranging, the most eye catching part of the Act for businesses will … Read more →