Since 1 January 2015, the Pensions Regulator has used its powers for the first time to issue “escalating penalty notices”. ...
To raise money for The Wallich, one of our nominate charities for the year, six of our Cardiff office are running the Cardiff Half Marathon, on Sunday 4th October. ...
The European Court of Justice has confirmed its approach in the Woolworths case in a further judgment of the ECJ handed down this week in Lyttle and others v Bluebird UK Bidco 2 Ltd (C-182/13). ...
So, after the excitement of the General Election last week, what does the new Conservative Government have in store on the employment law front?...
Clarkslegal’s international legal alliance, TAGLaw’s, recently held its 32nd international conference in Edinburgh, attended by our Managing Partner, David Rintoul. The conference, which took place on May 4-6, 2015, provided TAGLaw® members with the opportunity to strengthen the relationships they create within the alliance of more than 150 law firms from around the world. ...
The recent Goldswain case gave the High Court the opportunity to summarise the relevant case law relating to the extent of a consultant’s duty to warn its client in relation to the potential failings of other parties or of the client itself....
An Employment Tribunal has awarded a zero-hours worker £19,500 for injury to feelings. It was found that the employer had failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment by the employee’s line manager....
On 26 March 2015, we reported the employment tribunal decision in the Lock v British Gas case, which followed on from the European Court of Justice decision in the matter last year....
The recent case of Rada-Ortiz v Espinosa-Vadillo is welcome news for employers and others dealing with the actions of a disgruntled ex-employee....
In a much welcomed decision for employers, the European Court of Justice in the Woolworths/Ethel Austin case has followed the decision of the Advocate General which we reported on 6 February 2015 (Advocate General's opinion in Woolworths' case: employers now optimistic that consultation decision will be overruled)....
A rent deposit is money provided by a tenant to its landlord as security for payment of the rent and performance of the tenant’s covenants contained in the lease. A rent deposit deed will specify the circumstances in which the landlord can draw on this money and the conditions that must be satisfied for the deposit to be repaid to the tenant. ...
This Wednesday, April 22nd, Clarkslegal and James Cowper Kreston successfully co-hosted their ‘Trading with India: The Hinduja Group Perspective’ event at the University of Reading, where they were delighted to be joined by keynote speaker Abhijit Mukhopadhyay, President (Legal) & Company Secretary of the Hinduja Group....
Last week saw the launch of five of the main UK political party manifestos. Rarely read in detail by the voting public these tomes are often used to set out headline grabbing promises in the hope that they may sway the floating voter. ...
In a recent employment tribunal case, the claimants were represented by UNISON appointed solicitors in a claim against three respondents for alleged failure to consult under TUPE. When their claim form was submitted, the claimants' solicitor paid the £1,000 issue fee. The claimants each entered into a loan agreement with UNISON to advance a sum to them equal to the tribunal fees. This was repayable in the event that their claim, or part of it, succeeded in the tribunal....
It may not get much of a mention in the general election debates concerning Europe or employment matters but this month the European Commission launched a public consultation with the workers and employers representatives at EU level in order to obtain their views on the possible consolidation of the EU Directives on collective redundancies (Directive 98/59EC), transfer of undertakings (Directive 2001/23/EC) and information and consultation of workers (Directive 2002/14/E...
A new trust, the Bangladesh UK Environmental Foundation (BUEF), was launched in Cardiff on Monday 20th April. BUEF believes it will be the only UK charitable trust specifically focused on environmental issues in Bangladesh, and aims to raise funds to support relevant projects and activities for public benefit. BUEF has lodged an application to the Charity Commission to be registered as a UK charity....
Last Sunday, April 19th, Clarkslegal’s nominated charity Contact the Elderly celebrated their 50th anniversary, with almost 10,000 volunteers and elderly guests meeting for afternoon tea nationwide. ...
The decision to dismiss an individual must fall within one or more of the five statutory potentially fair reasons. These are, conduct, capability, illegality, redundancy and some other substantial reason (“SOSR”). Examples falling into the last category include, personality clashes, pressure from third parties and breakdown in trust and confidence. It is ultimately a decision for the Tribunal as to whether a decision to dismiss amounts to SOSR....
Last week, the Conservatives unveiled its election manifesto commitment for employees of large employers to be allowed to take three days paid “volunteering leave” a year to carry out charitable or other volunteering work. This week, Labour is announcing its plans for up to 18 weeks unpaid leave for grandparents to look after their grandchildren....
The EAT has found that a disclosure can be made in the “reasonable belief that it is in the public interest" even if it relates only to a group of staff as a whole rather than the wider public. The EAT stated that an individual contractual dispute would not normally satisfy the public interest test but a disclosure relating to a relatively small group of people may do so; what is sufficient is necessarily fact-sensitive. ...