How to calculate holiday pay in 2024: an update on legislative changes
For many businesses, calculating holiday pay is a straight-forward process. Employers are, within the parameters of the law, able to dictate how many annual leave days or hours a staff member is entitled to.
What is Carer's Leave?
Carer's Leave is where employees apply to be absent from work to provide or arrange care for a dependant with a long-term care need.
Changes to statutory Paternity Leave come into force
The Paternity Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2024 have now come into force, bringing with them changes which see fathers or partners of children born or adopted after 6th April 2024 being able to take their paternity leave entitlement in 2 blocks of one week within the first year of the birth or adoption of their child.
Business First Magazine - Spring 2024
Welcome to the Spring 24 edition of our Business First magazine.
Positive Action not Positive Discrimination
People often talk about how certain groups are under-represented within workforces, but what steps can an employer take to redress this? Head of Employment Law at Banner Jones Solicitors, Katie Ash, discusses how employers can use a Positive Action approach to eliminate or reduce discrimination and help these groups access employment or training as outlined in the Equality Act 2010.
New transparency rules to keep companies squeaky clean
Company directors, people with significant control of a company, or anyone who files on behalf of a company, must ensure they comply with new transparency rules from March 2024.
An Office Romance – Should a relationship at work be disclosed?
Disclosing a relationship at work depends on various factors, including company policies, the working environment, and the nature of the relationship. Sara Patel, Employment Law Specialist at Banner Jones, explains some considerations to help employees and employers navigate what can sometimes be a complex situation.
Innocent banter or workplace discrimination?
Workplace banter is driving a surge in claims against employers with research showing that 66 claimes relating to banter were heard in employment tribunals in 2022.
Minimum wage changes – is your business ready?
In November 2023 the government announced a minimum wage increase which was focused on protecting low-paid workers’ living standards in light of the current economic climate and cost of living crisis. The changes are due to come in to force on the 1st April 2024 - is your business ready?
Moving out of the marital home? Your rights uncovered
In this article we help to bust one of the most common family law myths, and provide advice on how to proceed if you wish to move out of the matrimonial home.
Relationship breakdown – can mediation help?
We know that relationship breakdown is never easy, and you may be going through a very difficult time. It can be hard to speak with your ex-partner, let alone reach agreements about the way forward. There are a range of options available to assist parties in reaching an agreement, one of which is mediation.
Employment Law - Changes employers need to be aware of
As we enter 2024, we’ve been reflecting on some of the significant changes in employment law we have seen over the course of 2023 which employers need to be aware of. These include amendments to the flexible working regime, further deliberations about employment status by the Supreme Court and considerable changes to the calculation of holiday pay. 2024 looks set to be a big year for change in employment law, so here we have done a roundup of key developments in 2023 and have highlighted the ‘ones to watch’ in 2024.
The Importance of Prenuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements for Business Owners
Here, our Head of Family Law, Kelly Parks explains why business owners should consider a pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreement.
The intertwining of relationships and financial assets can be a complex and delicate balance. As individuals embark on the journey of building a life together, it is crucial to consider the potential impact on the business if the relationship were to end.
Estate Planning for Business Owners – what should you consider?
Estate planning for business owners is a critical process that includes planning for the transfer of your assets and the management of your business in the event of your retirement, death or incapacity. Here are some essential steps and considerations for business owners when it comes to estate planning.
Redundancy Consultation Processes – Advice for Employers
Consultation is a key part of any fair redundancy process. It is therefore vital that employers considering redundancies plan how they will consult their employees about any proposed redundancies at an early stage.
Changes to Flexible Working regulations
New regulations extending flexible working rights were put before Parliament on 11th December 2023. From the 6th April 2024, these new regulations came into force and all employees will no longer need to have 26 weeks’ continuous employment in order to make a flexible working request.
Estate agents could face severe penalties over failure to disclose material information under newly published requirements
National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) published comprehensive new guidance covering the process to improve material information disclosure in property sales on the 30th November 2023.
Holiday Pay Claims – Supreme Court’s Landmark Ruling
The UK Supreme Court has ruled that employees can claim for a series of underpayments of holiday pay, even where there has been a gap of more than three months between different underpayment periods. This could lead to many UK workers being entitled to thousands of pounds in miscalculated holiday pay.
Business First Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2023
Our quarterly business magazine is packed full of features including creating a supportive workplace, sustainable buildings, legally compliant HR and EDI essentials.
Menopause for thought – what do employers need to know?
Women make up a significant portion of the workforce, so it is hardly surprising that gender equality in the workplace has become an important topic in recent decades.
Workers to be given the statutory right to request more predictable working patterns
The Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill received Royal Assent on 18 September 2023, becoming the Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023. This new legislation will give workers the right to request more predictable working patterns relating to the number of hours, times and days of the week that they work.
Managing changes in equality, diversity and inclusion
Most companies work hard to create a safe and productive workplace, but how can businesses stay up to date on these policy and initiative changes, as well as mitigating risks?
Accidents at work - what you need to know
Workplace health and safety remains an ongoing concern for many industries, especially those deemed to be a little more physically dangerous. The safety of staff has always been a big issue with ever evolving legislation in place to make sure protection is in place.
What happens to my pension when I divorce?
A pension is a matrimonial asset, regardless of whose name it is in, and its value and how it should be shared needs to be considered when dividing the assets.
Dogs & Divorce- a bone of contention?
Over the last few years, there have been a spattering of cases in the media where separating couples have disclosed that they have spent thousands of pounds arguing over who should get the dog.