Recent Posts

Brexit and a letter from the Secretary of State
On 15th May 2019, the UK Government Department for exiting the European Union ( "DexEU") published on its website a letter dated 14th...
15/05/19
Research indicates employers are failing to take pregnant workers' health seriously
Detailed research conducted by the Equality and Human Rights Commission into the experience of mothers at work has found that 41% of...
15/05/19
Brexit and its wider political and economic context
On 10th May 2019, the UK Government Department for Exiting the EU ("DexEU") published on its website a transcript of the speech given the...
14/05/19
Court of Appeal does not sit on the fence when it comes to easements....
Real estate expert, Ryan Smale, examines a recent case concerning a possible fencing easement. Introduction In Churston Golf Club Ltd v...
14/05/19
European court tells employers to properly measure the length of time their staff are working
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has today handed down an important judgment about working time in the case of CCOO v...
14/05/19
Sanctuary Spaces: Can thoughtful development improve our mental health?
Last week, an email popped into my inbox from the BPF - highlighting a social media campaign they are running for Mental Health Awareness...
13/05/19
The reassuring "buzz" in the ear of the neighbourhood planning officer.
This week’s Planning Magazine reports that Councils are adding drones to their planning toolkit. It is a story which also features in the...
10/05/19
Need temporary staff? Choose your work agency carefully
Agency workers have a number of rights set out in the Agency Workers Regulations 2010. After twelve weeks there are entitled to the same...
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How do you manage an "unmanageable" employee?
That was the question in issue in the case of Gibson v London Borough of Hounslow and Crane Park School. Facts Ms Gibson was a US...
09/05/19
Brexit and a life beyond!
Both the regulators and private individuals appear to be thinking of a life beyond Brexit, if Brexit takes place. The free London...
08/05/19
Chancellor hints National Living Wage could rise to £9.61 next year
It has been reported that the Chancellor, Philip Hammond is considering raising the National Living Wage to 66% of median earnings, the...
08/05/19
What's new in the world of Permitted Development?
It appears that those over at MHCLG had a busy Friday before heading out for the bank holiday sunshine (if you could find the sun...
07/05/19
Brexit and a legal challenge to the notice of withdrawal from the EU
On May 6th 2019, "The Times" published its Law Report in the English Court of Appeal decision of Regina ( Wilson and others) v Prime...
07/05/19
Brexit and Corporate Governance
Since the Brexit Referendum on 23rd June 2016 at which the UK voted to leave the EU, there has been speculation within the City of London...
05/05/19
Getting the C3 Blues: Is the Use Classes Order no longer useful when it comes to Specialist Housing?
It is frequently stated that necessity is the mother of invention.* Whilst I am not one to place all that much faith in proverbs; the...
05/05/19
Brexit and the cultural divide
Chatham House, the London-based political think tank, devotes a significant section of the April/May 2019 edition of its magazine, "The...
01/05/19
Brexit and Company Law
On 18 April 2009 the EU Parliament resolved at first reading to adopt, with amendments, two Directives which are designed to streamline...
30/04/19
Country Living ain't easy - the Lords have their say...
Over the weekend the House of Lords Select Committee on the Rural Economy has called on the Government to develop a rural strategy and...
30/04/19
All we hear is: this is a GAGA
The recent decision in Co-operative Group Food Limited v A & A Shah Properties Limited, Frank Forney and Partners LLP [2019] is a rare...
30/04/19
Brexit and a new Customs Union
The Institute of Economic Affairs ("IEA") , a free market think tank, issued a new briefing paper on 25th April 2019 in which it argued...
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High Court finds two company directors personally liable for employment claims made by staff
A limited company is legally separate from its directors and, usually, directors are not personally liable for claims made against it or...
29/04/19
Here I am. Stuck in the Middle with you.... DCLG Guidance on Education Funding sets up inter-council conflicts over s.106 Contributions.
I have had the classic Stealers Wheel song* stuck in my head ever since DCLG and DfE issued their revised guidance on the funding of...
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Do employers need a policy on periods?
Many employers are developing policies to support their menopausal employees going through "the change". But, very few have policies...
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Do you have to compensate an employee if they don't receive a written statement of their T&Cs on time?
A few weeks ago, we reported the case of Stefanko and others v Maritime Hotel Ltd where the EAT decided that staff who had worked between...
26/04/19
Brexit and Switzerland - A further development
Following the citizens' rights agreement which the UK and Switzerland signed on 25th February 2019, the two countries have now reached an...
25/04/19
Brexit, Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing
On 15th April 2019, H.M. Treasury published a consultation paper with the memorable title of "Transposition of the Fifth Money Laundering...
23/04/19
10 ways to make gender pay gap information more reliable
The Royal Statistical Society has published a list of 10 recommendations in a bid to improve the accuracy and usefulness of gender pay...
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Should you allow staff to record disciplinary and grievance hearings?
It is exceptionally easy for anyone with a mobile phone to covertly record a conversation in the workplace. In the context of a...
23/04/19
DfE publishes new guidance on home schooling
The DfE guidance on elective home education has been updated and applies to both schools and local authorities The number of children...
23/04/19
Waste not, want not...
These days, every day has a title but 24 April 2019 is Stop Food Waste Day and, now in its third year, never before has its dilemmatic...
23/04/19