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How to Avoid Employment Law Issues at Christmas Parties

How to Avoid Employment Law Issues at Christmas Parties

With the countdown to Christmas already started, it might be an idea to look at how to avoid the potential employment law issues at Christmas parties. Without wanting to be viewed as the 'Scrooge' of the party season, we think that it is helpful to set out some useful tips before entering into the party season and heading for that next glass of mulled wine.

Employees should continue to be aware that when on a work Christmas lunch or dinner, they are still employed by

TUPE Regulations - What Are the Changes?

TUPE Regulations - What Are the Changes?

Are you up to date with the changes in TUPE regulations? In November 2011, the Department for Business, Skills and Innovation (BIS) published a call for evidence, seeking views on the effectiveness of the current TUPE regulations. This was on the basis that it was thought that the regulations 'gold-plated' the EU Directive.

Following this call for evidence, the Government announced how the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) Regulations 2006 will change. After deciding not to go ahead with two significant changes it

Child Maintenance Payments Following Separation

Child Maintenance Payments Following Separation

Who is eligible for child maintenance payments following separation?

Separation often results in one parent being responsible for the majority of the everyday care of the children. A common result of this is that they also end up being responsible for the everyday costs. Child maintenance is financial support paid by the parent who does not have day-to-day care of the children. It can be paid to the other parent, the child or a grandparent, or other guardian.

Child support payments are usually agreed between

Introduction of Employment Tribunal Fees

Introduction of Employment Tribunal Fees

29 July 2013 marks a dramatic change to employment tribunals (ET) as we have known them, with the introduction of employment tribunal fees. Under these new rules, claimants will be required to pay an upfront fee when submitting their claim to the ET and a further 'hearing fee' 21 days before their hearing takes place.

From 29 July, claimants wishing to submit a claim to the ET will be required to pay £160 or £250 to lodge a claim with a further charge of either

Do Employers Need a Social Media Policy?

Do Employers Need a Social Media Policy?

Should employers have a social media policy? The potential employment risks around social media was highlighted this month after the resignation of the first Youth Police and Crime Commissioner, Paris Brown, following racist tweets on her Twitter account. Although the tweets were sent before she applied for and accepted the job, they were there to be scrutinised by her future employers and the media.

It is taken for granted that everyone now has some sort of online presence  be it for business, pleasure or both.

Dealing with Anti-social Tenants in Scotland

Dealing with Anti-social Tenants in Scotland

One of the many differences between tenancy law in England and Scotland was highlighted online, namely the consequences of a landlord's failure to address the behaviour of antisocial tenants. In England, the landlord has no specific legal obligations to deal with antisocial tenants however Scotland is an entirely different story.

The Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Act places a duty on a private landlord to take action to deal with antisocial tenants. Local authorities who receive complaints of antisocial behaviour in a tenanted property will normally

Disability Discrimination - A Weighty Issue

Disability Discrimination - A Weighty Issue

We are often asked by employers to advise on disability discrimination.

Equality Act 2010 states 'a person has a disability if he has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on his ability to carry out normal day to day activities'. Long term means the impairment has lasted, or is likely to last:

  • at least 12 months
  • or for the rest of a person's life
  • or, if it is in remission, is likely to recur

The guidance

Landlords: How to Evict a Tenant

Landlords: How to Evict a Tenant

As a private landlord you'll be glad to know that when it comes to repossessing your property in Scotland, the lawmakers have made it nice and complicated for you. Even if a tenant has committed a serious breach of the tenancy agreement, there is no guarantee that you will be able to evict them. So how to evict a tenant?

There are two handy routes for eviction that are available to you, but neither is fool proof.

HOW THE SECTION 33 ROUTE WORKS:
-At least