ACAS and process changes

Due to recent process and policy changes that took place earlier in the year, employees must contact Acas before registering a claim with the Employment Tribunal. Figures that were released by Acas in the recent publication, Early Conciliation Statistics for the First Quarter, and covering April 06 through June 30 of 2014 show that each…

National Minimum Wage increases – UK

From 1^st October 2014 the NMW shall increase as follows

For workers 21 and over – £6.50
For workers 18-20 years- £5.13
For 16-17 year olds – £3.79

For apprentices under 19 or 19 and over who are in the first year of apprenticeship – £2.73

Banning emails after working hours – will this become law?

Most of us tend to receive emails after our official working hours and some of us are constantly looking at their smart phone to keep track of emails coming in. Today emails are instant and the expectation to respond is just as immediate. The promptness has become the same as text messaging however not having…

To settle or not to settle?

Employers and employees are often faced with the dilemma as to whether they should settle outside court or whether they should take the potential claim to an employment tribunal. Often the word “principle” comes into play. That is business and individuals alike believe that taking the case forward is about “principle”, however more often than…

Holiday calculations and an employee’s death

Rulings of the European Court of Justice have an impact of how the law is interpreted in England as well as in all the other Member States, hence the simple fact is that we cannot ignore what goes on in Europe and we must keep ourselves updated. We have seen that in recent years the…

Does obesity fall under the definition of disability?

In the opinion of the Advocate General (AG) of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), morbid obesity (BMI of more than 40) may fall within the meaning of disability under EU law, despite the fact that EU law does not legislate on discrimination on the ground of obesity. It is important to keep in mind…

How June’s Working Laws Will Affect You

June 30, 2014, marks the deadline for employees to request more flexible work schedules, thanks to the Government’s Consultation on Modern Workplaces. If you aren’t sure where to begin, here’s a full explanation of the legislation and how employees can make the transition. Most employers are familiar with handling the needs of employees who need…

Commissions Considered when Calculating Holiday Pay

The European Court of Justice has good news for employees, as it has been determined that commissions that might have been earned should also be reflected in holiday pay. In the case of Lock v British Gas Trading Ltd, Lock was awarded not only his basic salary but also the sales commissions achieved. These commissions…

Hot Topic across the Nation: #GiveGregTheHoliday

The hype was sent into overdrive when a holiday request was accidentally forwarded to thousands of tweeters employed by Arcadia, a high street retail group. The tweeting blunder was executed by a security guard named Greg Heaslip, who works for this company. When Greg Heaslip emailed his boss asking for two days leave for a…