News & Legal Updates

We’re all trying to adapt to the ‘new normal’ and for those employers responding to Employment Tribunal claims (Respondent) brought by employees (Claimant) and expecting to attend an Employment Tribunal Hearing between now and 26th June 2020, the new norm is very different indeed. What is the new norm for Employment Tribunals? The Presidents of … Continue reading "What Employers Need to Know About Employment Tribunals During Coronavirus Pandemic"

Although the online service employers will use to reclaim SSP is not available yet, the Government has announced details of who can use The Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme (Rebate Scheme) and the records employer must keep. Who can use the Rebate Scheme? The Rebate Scheme will repay to employers with less than 250 … Continue reading "Claiming Back Statutory Sick Pay Paid to Employees Due to Coronavirus"

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“CJRS”) has been particularly hard to interpret due to the continually updated and changing guidance from the Government. We have found it difficult to keep in focus the main points of CJRS and have decided to publish our three top tips for employers who are furloughing staff and are wanting … Continue reading "Updated Government Guidance: 3 Top Employer Tips For Ensuring Your HMRC Claim is Accepted"

The Scottish Parliament have now introduced The Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill (intended to supplement the Coronavirus Act 2020) which brings into force some temporary measures, the purposes of which are to protect tenants (commercial, private and social tenants) as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Whilst it is acknowledged that both commercial landlords and tenants alike … Continue reading "Commercial property law update: Part 2 – Changes to irritancy provision in commercial leases"

It appears that after the frantic flurry of activity getting to grips with how the Government’s advice to stay at home and stay away from others would impact on their workplaces, many employers are now beginning to settle into a new norm. For some that means the HR workload, for the time being at least, … Continue reading "Three Things Employers Should be Doing Now"

It has now been almost a couple of weeks since the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“CJRS”) was announced and further guidance has been issued recently regarding its implementation. However, there is presently no official guidance on how annual leave should be dealt with for those on furlough leave. We would expect that it should be … Continue reading "Coronavirus: A Guide for Employers – Part 10"

The emergency Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill (‘the Bill’), was published on Tuesday 31 March 2020 and is expected to pass in full on Wednesday 1 April 2020. Subject to Parliament’s approval, the Bill is likely to come into force during the week commencing Monday 6 April 2020. The Bill is designed to work alongside the Coronavirus … Continue reading "Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill: a (temporary) re-write of the law on residential evictions"

With the Government’s recent guidance on social distancing, the Job Retention Scheme, furlough worker status, essential (and non-essential) businesses and the rescue package for the self-employed, an employer could be forgiven for not keeping up to date with the other new legislation. However employers should note that, from 6 April 2020, the law relating to … Continue reading "Are you ready for the new legislation on bereavement leave which takes effect from 6 April 2020?"

The coronavirus has had a far bigger impact on our workplaces than anyone could ever have imagined and with the prospect of normal life not returning for up to six months (the Government has recently warned that strict social distancing measures may continue into the summer), there will no doubt be a few more minefields … Continue reading "Covid-19: – How employers can avoid discrimination and GDPR issues"

One of the sectors most affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic is food and drink with premises ordered to close following government announcements made on 20th and 23rd March. Where is closed? From close of trade on 23rd March the following food and drink premises must be closed: • Restaurants; • Cafes; • Public Houses; … Continue reading "Licensed Premises and Covid-19"