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Family rights
Inbrief
02 February 2024Employees who have parental responsibility for a child are afforded certain legal rights in order to protect and support their role as parents. In this Inbrief, we summarise the basic legal position on maternity and adoption, shared parental leave, paternity leave, parental leave, time off for dependents, carer's leave and flexible working, referred to collectively as “family rights”.
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Maternity leave and pay
Inbrief
31 January 2024The law recognises employees on maternity leave as being particularly vulnerable and gives them special protection. As a result, employers need to be careful to make sure they comply with their legal obligations in this area. This Inbrief summarises the rights that employees on maternity leave enjoy and looks at some common problem areas.
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Paternity leave and pay
Inbrief
31 January 2024The law relating to paternity leave and pay is not as developed or as complicated as maternity legislation, but employers still need to be aware of the legal position. In this Inbrief, we summarise the rules and look at some practical issues.
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The Working Time Regulations 1998
Inbrief
19 January 2024The Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR) were originally introduced to implement the European Working Time Directive in the UK. They remain in force (with some amendments) now that the UK has left the EU.
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Redundancy
Inbrief
19 January 2024This Inbrief looks at how employers can minimise the risk of legal claims when dismissing employees by reason of redundancy. The starting point is making sure that there is a genuine redundancy situation. The crucial thing then is to follow a reasonable procedure, including consulting the affected employees, applying a fair selection process and considering alternative employment. Finally, those dismissed should be given their correct redundancy pay.
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M&A employment law support - top ten questions
Inbrief
19 January 2024In mergers and acquisitions (M&A) navigating the legal requirements and ramifications of the deal can be tricky.
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M&A employment law support: TUPE clauses in a business transfer agreement
Inbrief
19 January 2024If the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) apply to a business sale, it has significant ramifications for both the buyer and seller. This Inbrief examines how the business transfer agreement can best cater for these issues.
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TUPE
Inbrief
12 January 2024The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) and previous versions of the regulations have been in force in the UK since 1981. The purpose of TUPE is to safeguard employee rights in the transfer of a business.
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Equal Pay
Inbrief
10 January 2024Equal pay law first developed in the UK in the 1970s after a campaign by trade unions and women's groups. The principle that men and women who do equal work should receive equal pay is implemented through the Equality Act 2010.
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Disability discrimination
Inbrief
09 January 2024The Equality Act 2010 governs the law relating to unlawful discrimination, including disability discrimination. There are some special protections for disabled people in addition to those which apply to other protected groups, including the duty to make reasonable adjustments. This Inbrief gives an overview of the law in the employment context.
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Advertising foods high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS)
Inbrief
07 December 2023Advertising of HFSS foods is under a lot of scrutiny in the UK due to the obesity crisis, but recently has been put more on a back burner by the UK government due to the cost-of-living crisis and opposition to proposed legislative measures from some government MPs. Advertising HFSS products is already tightly regulated in the UK, but there are new rules on the horizon.
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The Online Safety Act
Inbrief
08 November 2023The Online Safety Act introduces a new regulatory regime to address illegal and harmful content online. We are seeing more and more scrutiny in this area, with Australia, Ireland and the EU already passing new legislation, including the EU’s Digital Services Act.
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A brief guide to the Employment Tribunal process
Inbrief
13 September 2023This Inbrief provides an overview of the Employment Tribunal process, from making a claim to the outcome of the final hearing. It is deliberately brief and does not cover every aspect of tribunal procedure, so do seek specific advice on your own circumstances if you are involved in a claim. This applies to England and Wales only, as the process in Scotland and in Northern Ireland is a bit different – do contact us if you need more information about this.
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Changing terms and conditions of employment
Inbrief
13 September 2023Whether it is updating an individual contract or implementing a large-scale change of shift patterns or working location, varying an employment contract means changing the “deal” between employer and employee. This Inbrief looks at how an employer can secure a binding change to terms and conditions of employment, and what options are available when agreement cannot be reached. We consider what is meant by “fire and rehire” and explain the legal and commercial risks of this approach.
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Salary sacrifice arrangements
Inbrief
13 September 2023A salary sacrifice arrangement is where an employee gives up the right to receive part of the cash salary due under their contract of employment in return for the employer’s agreement to provide some form of non- cash benefit.
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Being a witness in the Employment Tribunal
Inbrief
06 September 2023This Inbrief provides an outline guide to being a witness at the Employment Tribunal, covering what to expect and tips on giving evidence both in person and online. This applies to England and Wales only, as the process in Scotland and in Northern Ireland is a bit different – do contact us if you need more information about this.
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M&A employment law support – post completion integration, changes to terms and redundancies
Inbrief
05 September 2023This Inbrief examines some of the legal challenges a buyer may face once the deal is done and integration is the number one focus – whether across its simple day to day operations, or in relation to more drastic steps such as restructuring and dismissals.
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Irish employment law
Inbrief
30 August 2023This Inbrief provides a whistle-stop tour of the most important Irish employment law issues, from the beginning of the employment relationship through to its conclusion.
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Managing ill health and disability
Inbrief
07 August 2023The management of ill health and disability raises problems that employers have to grapple with on a daily basis. Minimising the cost and inconvenience of ill health in the workforce, whilst ensuring compliance with legal obligations, requires both a clear understanding of the relevant legal principles and a co-ordinated approach.
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Settlement agreements
Inbrief
07 August 2023First introduced by statute in 1993, settlement agreements (previously known as compromise agreements) have become increasingly common as a means for an employer and employee to settle claims and/or effect a clean break from the employment relationship.