A new UK bill takes a closer look at employment law giving more strength to whistle-blowers and ensuring enforcement of minimum pay levels. Vince Cable, the UK Business Secretary, has taken aim at the abuses of zero hour contracts in the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill. The Bill, introduced to the UK parliament, is …
Vince Cable sets out to tackle abuse of zero hour contractorsRead more
Duncan McFadzean, director of ELP Arbuthnott McClanachan and a member of United Employment Lawyers, raises the thorny case of what an employee can do when their employer won’t make them redundant. Most employees do not really want to lose their jobs. But what if your role at work is changed beyond all recognition or even …
Ian Watson, a veteran employment law trainer and consultant, examines the latest decision that commission should be included for employees heading off on annual leave. With the holiday season fast approaching, there is one thorny issue that can cause major headaches: holiday pay. For many years calculating the amount to be paid to employees taking …
Happy holidays? Trouble brewing for employers on the pay frontRead more
Adelle Morris, (pictured, left) an employment lawyer with Grigor & Young in Elgin, hails the extension of flexible working as a benefit for all – provided the guidelines for employee and employers are clear. The right to request flexible working is crucial to many carers who look after young children, disabled people and adults in …
Inverness lawyer Ewan Stafford, a solicitor with Macleod & MacCallum, and a UEL member, says the Richard Scudamore affair highlights the importance of having a workable digital policy in place. The press has been awash with allegations that Richard Scudamore, the chief executive of the English Premier League, sent private emails to friends which were …
A United Employment Lawyers news briefing looks at the latest UK statistics of waiver claims. Around 1,800 claims against employment tribunal charges have been rejected, according to statistics revealed by the Minister for Courts and Legal Aid in the House of Commons this week. From 29 July to 31 December 2013, 2,500 paper applications were …
1,800 fee waiver claims rejected for employment tribunal systemRead more
Briony Cruden, of Bannerman Burke (pictured here at the firm’s employment law seminar held recently in Melrose) and a member of the United Employment Lawyers network, gives a first-hand account of Acas’ Early Conciliation Service Last week I had my first encounter with Acas’ Early Conciliation Service. I am a confessed over-thinker and the mere …
One of the founding fathers of ACAS predicts a rocky transition to the compulsory early-bird intervention required before parties can proceed to a full-blown employment tribunal. Colin McGrath, an employment tribunal member in Manchester for over 30 years, who lives in the Scottish Borders, says there are likely to be hold-ups because ACAS is not …
The rapid departure of Manchester United’s coach David Moyes highlights the benefit of a settlement agreement, explains Ewan Stafford, an employment law expert with Macleod & MacCallum, in Inverness, and part of the United Employment Lawyers’ network. There is nothing subtle about being a sacked Premier League manager in the frantic media spotlight. Scotsman David …
With many more people wanting to work beyond the retirement age, there are clear channels to ensure everyone is treated fairly. Adelle Morris, of Grigor & Young and Moray Employment Law in Elgin (pictured), examines the options. We are all working longer in life. More people are concerned about their pension provision – or a …