New ‘Fit Note’ looks set to help patients stay in work

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Britain’s ‘sickness culture’ is estimated to cost the economy some £100 billion and 172 million working days every year – but this is all set to change next spring. This is when the Government is planning to introduce the so-called ‘Fit Note’ which may replace the sick note that GPs have used for over … Read more

New powers enforce the payment of Tribunal awards

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Employers should be aware of new measures from the Ministry of Justice designed to ensure that people who have been granted awards by an Employment Tribunal receive the money they are owed for transgressions by their employers, such as those relating to unfair dismissal, workplace discrimination and equal pay. The Ministry’s research showed that … Read more

How the credit crunch is affecting legacy values

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]One result of the credit crunch and recession is the falling value of personal estates that is making it more important than ever that people update their wills. Many people are seeing the value of their savings diminish significantly, sometimes making it impossible for their wishes to be fulfilled after their death. For example … Read more

Avoiding the penalties of misleading advertising

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Businesses must ensure that their advertising is accurate, or face some potentially expensive consequences. This warning follows a decision by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that a poster by online retailer and auction website eBay was misleading in making the claim that it was “25% cheaper than the high street on brand new items”. … Read more

Reducing hours: is it the way to cut costs in the recession?

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Responding to the news that some 25% of all British manufacturing companies have already reacted to the recession by cutting the hours worked by their staff, Gamlins believes that employers need to understand the full implications of proposing a pay cut. Of course it is not only manufacturers who are making such requests. Employers … Read more

Businesses must understand major employment law changes

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Sweeping changes to employment law, introduced on 6th April, have changed the way workplace grievance and disciplinary disputes are handled and it is vital that employers understand the implications of the new Code of Practice or face the potential of more costly Tribunal awards. The changes mean the previous three-step statutory grievance and disciplinary … Read more

New HIPs rules place more demands on home-sellers

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]People hoping to sell a home need to understand recent changes to the law surrounding Home Information Packs (HIPs) if they wish to avoid unnecessary delays. Three key changes to HIPs were introduced on the 6th April which has implications for anyone looking to put their home on the market. Firstly, the temporary first … Read more

Good employment practices prevent ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ attitudes

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Businesses need to cope with the fact that difficult economic times bring out the best and the worst in many people – including their employees. A recent survey by IT security company Cyber-Ark found a Jekyll and Hyde approach to employee relations that’s emerging as a direct result of job insecurity. On the one … Read more

Prenuptial agreements – an effective and practical way of avoiding heartache

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]The status of prenuptial agreements as an effective way of confirming how a couple’s assets should be divided following the break-up of a marriage has received an important boost. In a recent landmark case, a woman who had already accrued some £18 million in divorce settlements from three previous marriages dropped her claim to … Read more

Why now might be the right time to make a lifetime gift

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]One little-considered effect of today’s difficult financial and economic situation is the impact it may have on how people choose to pass on assets to their children and other heirs. We are probably all thoroughly tired of hearing how property and share prices have declined in value in recent months. But this otherwise regrettable … Read more

Lasting Powers of Attorney – protecting yourself against the unknown

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Just over a year since the Government introduced the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) even younger people should consider it as a way of protecting their dependents. The LPA is a legally binding way for a person to pass responsibility for the key financial and welfare decisions that affect them to one or more … Read more

Make sure you know the new rules on redundancy

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]In these days of accelerating redundancy rates, it is crucial to highlight to businesses the rises in redundancy pay that came into force at the beginning of February. On 1 February, a week’s redundancy pay increased from £330 to £350, and the maximum statutory redundancy payment rose to £10,500 from £9,900. This has now … Read more

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