Backhouse Solicitors’ blog
Updated for 2018 is our 3-part Employers' Guide to Christmas. During the time of year in which employers can face all sorts of HR challenges, this guide helps to set ground rules and certain expectations in order to help staff enjoy the festive season free from [...]
The Government Equalities Office recently published new guidance for employers and employees on workplace dress codes and avoiding discrimination. You can download the original document below, but we have prepared a summary of the key points for employers to take on board. View the Government Equalities Office [...]
Quarterly figures recently released by Equity Release specialist Key Retirement continue to show a strong demand for Equity Release products across the UK. Read on to find out more. What is an Equity Release Mortgage? An Equity Release Mortgage, also known as a Lifetime Mortgage, enables [...]
In December 2016 we wrote about the sad case of Bellman vs Northampton Recruitment. This looked at whether employers can be held liable for issues occurring after an office Christmas party. It’s well established in employment law that a Christmas party should always be considered as [...]
In the recent heatwave, soaring temperatures prompted several hot weather warnings advising us to stay indoors and out of the sun. The elderly are at particular risk and statistics sadly show that death rates increase substantially in hot periods, not just cold winter periods. If you [...]
With summer temperatures soaring to the highest levels since 1976, employers should be thinking about how they should manage the workplace environment to keep their workers in the best conditions possible. The Legal Position The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations of 1992 say that an [...]
The 2018 World Cup in Moscow is now well under way. Businesses may have already been handling annual leave requests from the more astute football fans, but for the less organised followers of the sport, time’s up for holiday requests. With afternoon kick offs scheduled throughout [...]
Is it disability discrimination to refuse to employ somebody because you think that a condition they have may become a disability in future? In the recent case of Chief Constable of Norfolk vs Coffey, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (“EAT”) decided that yes it is. Ms Coffey [...]
In February 2018 the Government announced a response to Matthew Taylor’s Review of Modern Working Practices which came out last year. The Business Secretary Matthew Taylor pledged to introduce what he called a “Good Work Plan” and follow through on some of the recommendations in the [...]
One of the highest profile employment law cases of recent times went to the Supreme Court on 20 February 2018. Gary Smith worked for Pimlico between 2005 and 2011 as a “self-employed” plumber. He was required to wear a Pimlico uniform, lease a signwritten company van [...]
