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Coronavirus – our fourth employer survey

05 June 2020

Our fourth employer benchmarking survey looks at how employers are approaching the potential reopening of their offices as they begin to assess some of the longer-term implications of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus - our fifth employer survey

02 July 2020

Our fifth employer benchmarking survey took place between 23 and 30 June 2020, and looked at the changes to the furlough scheme, risk assessments, homeworking equipment, employees stuck abroad and a range of other issues about the ongoing impact of Covid-19.

RE: Occupy Survey

30 July 2020

Many businesses have made adjustments to allow a steady return of staff to office premises. As Boris encourages people back into the office, and it becomes increasingly clear that things will not return to ‘normal’ for some time, thoughts are turning to the medium to long term vision. We conducted a survey for business decision makers to investigate their plans for their offices, providing some clear trends which we hope will benefit you as we look to a ‘new normal’.

Coronavirus – our sixth employer survey

22 July 2021

We have resumed our Covid benchmarking series to find out how employers are responding to the lifting of lockdown restrictions.

Exit Series part 4: Navigating lease surrenders

14 August 2023

Exiting an office space can have implications for your business. By being well prepared and understanding your legal position, you can get it right first time and avoid any costly delays. In the final part of this series we explore lease surrenders and the issues surrounding them.

Say farewell to credit and debit card surcharges

17 January 2018

On 13 January 2018, new rules came into force in the UK which mean that, for most retail payments, traders can no longer charge a fee in addition to the advertised price of a transaction on the basis of a consumer’s choice of payment means (for example, credit card, debit card or e-money).

Let Lachaux begin - Landmark defamation case in the Supreme Court

14 November 2018

Today the Supreme Court is hearing the second and final day of the appeal in the case of Lachaux v Independent Print and another against the Court of Appeal decision. Centre stage will be section 1(1) of the Defamation Act 2013, which, although has been discussed at length in this case so far, still requires clarification.

Publicity remains the “soul of justice” as Supreme Court rules non-party should be allowed access to court documents

16 August 2019

The Supreme Court has found that the courts have inherent jurisdiction under the constitutional principle of open justice to grant public access to documents placed before them or referred to during hearings – but “it is for the person seeking access to explain why he seeks it and how granting him access will advance the open justice principle”.

Historic holiday pay claims: Supreme Court decision in Agnew

04 October 2023

The Supreme Court has released its long-anticipated decision in the case of Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland v Agnew. It is now clear that a gap of three months between underpayments of holiday pay does not automatically break the chain of a series of deductions. If these are factually linked, the net can be cast much further back.

Supreme Courts blocks fire and rehire to preserve “permanent” right to enhanced pay

19 September 2024

The Supreme Court has granted an injunction in a high-profile trade union challenge to Tesco’s use of fire and rehire against warehouse staff with a contractual entitlement to a permanent financial incentive.

Supporting the rehabilitation of offenders in employment: opportunities and legal considerations for employers

30 August 2023

Since the publication of the government’s Prisons Strategy White Paper in 2021, a number of schemes have been launched that enable employers to proactively support prison leavers into employment. As the evidence points to the clear benefits of hiring this often-marginalised group, what opportunities are there for employers? And how should they approach the wider question of factoring a criminal record into the recruitment equation?

Financial support for larger firms: The COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility

26 March 2020

The COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF) is a quick and cost-effective way to raise working capital for those large businesses which need it.

Ramadan, coronavirus and the lockdown – how employers can support their staff

22 April 2020

Ramadan is expected to begin on the evening of 23 April 2020 and will last for 30 days, which means that some or all of it will be taking place under the continued lockdown imposed on account of the coronavirus situation. What issues do employers need to be aware of during Ramadan?

How can employers support their furloughed staff?

23 April 2020

How can employers best support their employees who have been furloughed under the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme?

Financial support for SMEs: the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS)

04 May 2020

100% Government-backed loans of up to £50,000 for small and medium businesses

Financial support for SMEs: The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)

06 May 2020

Government-backed loans of up to £5 million to small and medium businesses

Government announces extension to Job Support Scheme for closed business premises

12 October 2020

The Chancellor has announced an extension to the Job Support Scheme targeted at businesses required to close entirely due to tighter local or national coronavirus restrictions. Under these proposals, the government will pay two-thirds of wages for businesses forced to close in the coming months as it seeks to slow the rise in coronavirus cases. This article looks at what we know so far and considers what affected employers should do now.

New changes to the Job Support Scheme – an open and shut case?

23 October 2020

The Chancellor has significantly expanded the Job Support Scheme after objections from businesses, particularly those in tier two areas, that they are facing massively reduced demand but less support from the government than tier three businesses legally forced to close. Under the revised scheme, employees will have to work fewer hours and employers will need to contribute less in order to qualify. The changes could have a significant impact – but there is precious little time available to employers to take the steps needed to take advantage of the scheme before it comes into effect.

Coronavirus Job Support Scheme – FAQs for employers

04 November 2020

These FAQs explain how the government’s proposed Job Support Scheme would have worked if it had been introduced in November 2020 as originally planned.

Champagne supernova: Cristal brand owner sues cava producer (Brands & IP Newsnotes - issue 5)

23 June 2017

Do you know your Champagne from your Cava? Quite possibly, but a High Court judge held in late 2015 that a Spanish cava producer trading under the brand name, “Cristalino” had used a confusingly similar sign to that of the famous tipple preferred by rappers and the like, “Cristal”.