New Minimum Wage Rates in 2017
The following changes to the National Living Wage (NLW) and the National Minimum Wage (NMW) came into effect on 1 April 2017: The NLW for those aged 25 and over increased from £7.20 per hour to £7.50 per hour; The…
The Apprenticeship Levy – Are You Ready?
On 6 April 2017, the way in which apprenticeships in England are funded changed. Some employers are required to pay a new apprenticeship levy, and there will be changes to the funding for apprenticeship training for all employers. The levy…
Court Enforces Pre-Nuptial Agreement
When the marriage of a wealthy couple broke up, the English court had the opportunity to consider the impact of two pre-nuptial agreements the couple had made before they wed. The couple, both Swedes, married in 2000 and had had…
Claiming for Dilapidations
When a lease come to an end, the 'dilapidations clause' makes the tenant liable to restore the let premises to the same state they were in when the tenant first occupied them. It is established law that when a…
Property Investor Must Pay £120,400 Estate Agency Commission
It may come as a surprise to some property owners that estate agency fees are often payable regardless of whether a buyer is introduced by the agency concerned. A property investor found that out the hard way after the Court…
Actor in Cosmetic Treatment Tax Appeal Refused Anonymity
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are obliged to keep individuals’ tax affairs secret - but confidentiality generally does not survive an appeal. Exactly that happened in one case in which well-known actor Martin Clunes sought to set off the cost…
Workplace Disciplinary Investigations Have to Be Fair and Rigorous
All workplace disciplinary investigations must be fair, but even greater vigilance is needed where alleged misconduct is very serious and credibility is in issue. The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) made that point in boosting the compensation hopes of a care…
When Do Cumulative Medical Conditions Amount to Disability?
Many medical conditions amount to disabilities for the purposes of employment law, but matters can become more complicated when the combined effect of more than one condition is considered. The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) tackled that issue in the case…
Sacked Maritime Armed Guard Has Compensation Hopes Boosted
When losing parties read an Employment Tribunal (ET) decision, fairness demands that it should be clear to them exactly why they have failed. In one case where that did not happen, a maritime armed guard who was sacked after failing…
Unfair Dismissal Can Blight Your Lifetime Earnings
Unfair dismissal can blight your career indefinitely but, with the right legal advice, you can be compensated for every penny you lose in earnings. One case that proved the point concerned a finance director who was persecuted for whistleblowing and…