News & Legal Updates

Simon, Jack and Duncan discuss Bruce’s situation. Bruce is employed as a scientist. His employer receives an anonymous complaint. Tony, the Managing Director, chooses to investigate the complaint and then instructs his HR Manager to dismiss Bruce.

Simon, Donna and Jack discuss Bruce. Bruce is employed as a scientist. He makes a serious error in his job and his employers are considering whether or not that error amounts to gross misconduct. Ultimately Bruce’s employers choose to do nothing with him on the basis of his early admission, his reflection and his remorse. However the following week, an anonymous complaint is received by his employers. The complaint is alleged to have been received from Bruce’s colleagues. The complaint alleges that Bruce has knowingly made errors in the past. The complaints ends by stating, “Speak to Rick. He will back up what we say”. What should the Managing Director, Tony do?

In this episode, Simon and Jack discuss Bruce. Bruce is a scientist. He has been employed for 19 years. Clean disciplinary record. His job involves dispensing drugs for his employer. One day, Bruce makes an error and mistakenly mixes up the drug dosages. Fortunately, Bruce’s employer picks up this mistake and the pills are not sent out. However, Bruce’s employer is angry that this mistake has been made. So the legal question is, can the employer discipline – and even dismiss – Bruce for this?

On 14 January 2019 the legislative framework of intellectual property law in the UK was updated, following an update to the law at EU level. This provided for the removal of the requirement for trade marks to have ‘graphical representation’, typically either a word or a logo. This may seem a minor change, but it … Continue reading "‘Non-traditional’ trade marks"

It’s been 365 days since the GDPR was implemented into the UK through the Data Protection Act 2018.  A lot can change in a year but unfortunately a lot of the same old myths...

I have to rewind to the year 2006 when I studied mercantile law in second year at university for the roots of my knowledge of company law. Having missed out on a seat in our corporate team during my training, I am not ashamed to admit that those “halcyon days” at university form the sum total of my corporate law knowledge. I recall being lectured on the circumstances where it is possible to “pierce the corporate veil” and when a company director could be personally liable. Phrases such as corporate manslaughter and health and safety breaches done with consent, connivance or neglect ring some hazy bells.

Does the risk of an expensive compliance breach keep you up at night? Compliance failures are at the top of the worry list for many a business owner and director. Getting it right is in no way an easy task, especially with ever-changing legislation and a workforce fed up with increasing amounts of admin and … Continue reading "5 ways to a compliant business (and a better night’s sleep!)"

Dundee last week pledged itself to be the UK’s first living wage city. More than 50 employers have agreed to pay a living wage to its employees covering a quarter of the city. But let’s forget Dundee for now. What about The Simpsons? Have you heard Montgomery Burns making any pledges to pay his employees … Continue reading "Why Mr Burns should worry about National Minimum Wage"

The closing date for funding applications under the GP Sustainability Loan Fund for the financial year 2018/19 was 12 December 2018 and over 170 GP practices submitted applications.  The Scottish Government will make funding decisions on the first round of applications by 25 February 2019, and many of Blackadders’ GP clients are now receiving their … Continue reading "GP Sustainability Loan Fund"

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and love is in the air (cue supermarket meal deals, paying over the odds for red roses and love mixtapes) and as the old adage goes, love knows no bounds; cupid’s arrow can – and does – strike in the workplace. This will come as no surprise to … Continue reading "Cupid’s arrow in the workplace"