Flexible working- what are my rights?
A recent employment tribunal found in favour of a woman – a sales manager for a small estate agent in London, and a mum of one – whose request for more flexible working was refused by her employer.
Do grandparents have a right to contact with their grandchildren?
When a couple makes the decision to divorce, the breakdown of the relationship can have far-reaching consequences. Unfortunately, grandparents of any children of the relationship can suffer and even be prevented from seeing their grandchildren as often as they would like. However, there are certain actions grandparents can take to secure their relationship with their beloved grandchildren and in this article, we look at some of the solutions to a very sensitive legal problem.
Could Lasting Power of Attorneys go digital?
A more straightforward digital system to set up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) could come into play, but experts say that it is vital that sufficient safeguards are in place to protect elderly and vulnerable people from abuse. In this article, we look at how the system might work, and the concerns for potential abuse of a digital process for setting up Lasting Power of Attorney.
Child maintenance: What happens if a parent doesn’t pay?
Under a child maintenance arrangement, child maintenance is usually paid by the parent who does not have day-to-day care of the child or does not usually live with the child. If this payment is not forthcoming, the receiving parent could launch a civil legal claim.
Commercial Property- Rent or Buy?
There are several factors you should consider and making the right decision can be challenging. In this article, we look at the pros and cons of each to give you an idea of what you may wish to think about or discuss with your solicitor.
Where can you Legally use Electric Scooters, Micro Bikes, and Quad Bikes?
With the UK experiencing great summer weather, many people want to use this opportunity to get outside in new and exciting ways. If you own an electric scooter, quad bike or similar mode of transportation, it’s important to understand the rules and your obligations. In this article, we set out how and where you can legally use these types of vehicles.
The latest changes to road traffic accident claims
From 31 May 2021, the personal injury claims process has changed for people who suffer an injury in a road traffic accident (RTA) that are considered ‘low value’, such as soft tissue and whiplash injuries
Social media and the law: 6 things you need to know
The world of social media can often seem like the wild west of the internet. Everyone has simple access to an audience and can share anything they wish. In a matter of minutes, a post can go viral, spreading a message or causing damage to a brand's reputation. While the dos and don'ts of social media are far too extensive to cover in a blog post, in this quick guide, we point you in the direction of some things you should be aware of.
How to make use of IHT exempt gift allowances
Internet shopping may have boomed during the pandemic, but many people have spent less than usual while forced to stay home during the periods of lockdown. For those with spare money, they have an opportunity to make the most of inheritance tax reliefs on gifts to family and friends if they act swiftly.
Compulsory vaccinations in the care sector
With the Covid-19 vaccine fast being rolled out across the country and all over 18’s to be offered a first dose by the end of June 2021, the Government has now mandated that all people working in elderly care MUST be vaccinated in order to continue to do this work. The new legislation, which is subject to Parliamentary approval, is expected to come into force from October.
Recruitment - How to get it right
In our latest blog Head of Employment Law, Katie Ash, goes through the eight key steps to lawfully recruiting someone into your business. It can be a costly mistake to ignore the rules and get this wrong.
What happens to debt after someone dies?
When someone you love has passed away, the last thing you might be thinking about is debt. However, there are many misconceptions about debt and inheritance, and it is essential to understand your position.
A year of change for residential landlords
Residential landlords are under pressure to keep on top of a raft of new legislation and guidelines this year, including many protections for tenants extended by the government during the pandemic.
Power of Attorney & protecting the rights of people with dementia
Dementia Action Week runs 17th - 23rd May 2021 and is a national event that sees the public coming together to take action to improve the lives of people affected by dementia.
Breastfeeding when returning to work: What’s the law?
For many women, returning to work after maternity leave can feel like a daunting prospect and one of the biggest sticking points is in relation to those who continue to breastfeed or express milk once their maternity leave has ended.
Here, Banner Jones’ Head of Employment law, Katie Ash, looks at the state of current legislation here in the UK.
What can a landlord do if a commercial tenant is still unable to pay rent?
Even now the restrictions are easing and many more businesses are opening their doors, some commercial tenants may still be struggling to pay rent in full and on a regular basis. Both parties to a commercial lease contract should understand how their liabilities and obligations have been affected by COVID-19 and ideally work together towards a solution before the eviction protection comes to an end in June.
Returning to work after maternity
Handling an employee’s return to work after maternity leave can feel like a bit of a minefield to most employers. Added to this is the risk of expensive pregnancy and maternity related discrimination claims as well as possible sex discrimination and constructive dismissal claims if they get things wrong.
Thinking of turning your home into an Airbnb?
The restrictions on overseas travel has seen a race for UK holiday accommodation. Where property owners look to make money from ‘staycations’ by offering their homes on sharing platforms such as Airbnb, the ease of letting does not take away the responsibility to understand and keep up with relevant rules and regulations.
Out of hours communication – do you know the law?
For many business owners and decision makers, the lockdown restrictions introduced as a result of the Covid-19 crisis have provided them with an unprecedented opportunity to review their operations.
What happens to business assets during a divorce?
We know that divorce is not easy for anyone, but it can become even more complex when there are business assets involved.
Supreme Court rules sleep-in shift workers not eligible for National Minimum Wage
To the dismay of employees, but a decision arguably welcomed by employers, the Supreme Court has recently ruled in cases Royal Mencap Society v Tomlinson-Blake and Shannon v Rampersad and another (T/A Clifton House Residential Home) that sleep-in shift workers are not ‘working’ when they are asleep. This in turn means that care workers should only be paid the National Minimum Wage hourly rate on sleep-in shifts when they are awake for the purposes of actively working.
Gender Pay Gap Reporting: Your Questions Answered
Over time, the gap between women’s and men’s median hourly earnings has been narrowing. In fact, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) it has fallen by over a quarter among full-time employees in the last decade.
Judge rules to uphold deathbed Will
The England & Wales High Court has upheld a Will executed on his deathbed by a man who left everything to his long-term partner. Lee Foster, Director and Will Dispute specialist said, “The law provides individuals with wide discretion on how their estate should be distributed on their death; although there are specific circumstances under which this discretion can be challenged”.
How to calculate holiday pay in 2021: 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.
The Uber Ruling and the future for the Gig Economy.
On the 20th February 2021, the Supreme Court handed down its Judgment in the long awaited Uber case (Uber BV and Others v Aslam and Others). All six Judges unanimously ruled that the Uber drivers were workers, not self-employed contractors and as a result were entitled to basic employment rights like National Minimum Wage, holiday pay and sick pay.