Archived News - 2009
25th November 2009
A new arrival.
Today we have welcomed a new addition to our employment team. Alexandra Miller, a qualified solicitor who specialises solely in employment law, joins the team from a leading regional firm. She brings with her a wealth of experience having acted for a range of corporate and individual clients. Of the move, Alexandra commented that “as soon as I discovered Heidi Maguire Associates I knew that it was the firm for me. Its contemporary attitude to the law is immediately evident. The firm approaches the law in way that is fresh and ‘relevant’. The employment team is growing exponentially and its future outlook is bright and exciting.”
15th October 2009
A new Supreme Court.
This month, the Supreme Court replaced the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords as the highest court in the United Kingdom.
1st October 2009
A week’s pay increased.
The Redundancy pay limit is to increase from £350 to £380 per week from 1 October 2009. The Government has stated that the annual increase of the limit which would usually be due in January 2010 will be suspended and the £380 will remain in force until February 2011.
30th September 2009
The Tribunals Service has published its annual statistics for 2008/09 showing that the overall number of claims issued in the Employment Tribunal has fallen (down 20%) compared to 2007/08.
Key findings highlight:
- There were rises in claims of unfair dismissal (up 29%), breach of contract (up 31%) redundancy pay (up 29%) and redundancy failure to inform and consult (now 2.5 times the figure of 2007/08).
- Equal pay claims and sex discrimination claims have fallen significantly, down 27% and 31% respectively.
- The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) received 1,794 appeals and disposed of 1,933 compared to 1,841 and 2,026 respectively in 2007/08.
25th September 2009
You can’t take tips away from me.
The National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999 (Amendment) Regulations 2009 which come into force on 1st October change the law so that service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges paid to a worker through the employer’s payroll do not count towards national minimum wage.
30th July 2009
Lawyers at disciplinary hearings?
This question has now been considered by the Court of Appeal in Kulkarni v Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation. The court has suggested that where disciplinary charges are so severe that someone might not be able to work in the future if the charges are proved, that person has a right to legal representation at internal disciplinary hearings under Article 6 of the European Convention of Human Rights.
29th June 2009
The all new BIS.
After only two years, BERR (the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) is being replaced by merger with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. The new department, which is to be named the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, central purpose is “to help ensure business success in this increasingly competitive world”. You can find out more at www.berr.gov.uk
6th April 2009
Change in the right to request flexible working.
From 6th April 2009 parents of children up to the age of 16 (18 for disabled children) have the statutory right to request flexible working arrangements. The criterion needed to make a request has not changed.
1st April 2009
Increase to employees’ holiday entitlement.
Remember as of 1st April employee’s holiday entitlement has increased. Under the Working Time (Amendment) Regulations 2007 it has risen from 4.8 weeks to 5.6 weeks. Consequently employees are now entitled to 28 days leave including public and bank holidays.
