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Click the links below to read more about the changes in employment law from August: UK government considers ‘right to switch off’ legislation with potential compensation uplift ICO launches privacy...

Click the links below to read more about the changes in employment law in July:  Retracting job offer from Christian applicant with negative views on homosexuality was direct discrimination Guidance...

Regulated professionals in financial services, particularly those who provide financial planning advice to individuals, are likely to build deep relationships with their clients. Through regular touch points, exhaustive due diligence...

As we start a new year, a raft of new legislation is on the horizon, most of which is poised to come into force in Spring 2024. As it can...

A recent tribunal case found that Halifax Bank of Scotland had unfairly dismissed an employee for promoting her cake-making “side hustle” while on long term sickness leave, awarding her compensation...

Last month, the government’s ‘Naming Scheme’ publicly shamed some high-profile employers including WH Smith, Marks and Spencer and Argos for failing to comply with national minimum wage (NMW) legislation. The...

A staggering one in five people surveyed said they felt unable to manage stress and pressure in the workplace, according to Mental Health UK, who describe stress as ‘the feeling...

This month’s figures from the Office for National statistics (ONS) reveal that more 2.5 million people in the UK are no longer working due to ill health.  Mental health issues among...

In January 2023, we presented to over 100 HR professionals and business owners at the annual employment law update in association with CIPD Hertfordshire Branch. Attendees heard from our employment...

With more teams and lawyers recognised in this year’s rankings than ever, Debenhams Ottaway’s reputation as trusted advisers, working with SME’s, owner-managed businesses and entrepreneurs in Hertfordshire, London and across...

The Legal 500 UK, one of the leading legal directories, has published its latest results that celebrate the leading law firms and lawyers in the UK. Debenhams Ottaway is recognised...

Running a business can be exciting and rewarding, but keeping track of the latest legal requirements is often a challenge. With new rules and updates constantly coming out, here are...

A recent survey by Hertfordshire law firm Debenhams Ottaway, in collaboration with the Hertfordshire branch of the CIPD, has revealed that just 25% of businesses have a menopause policy despite...

In light of the Flexible Working Bill which is making its way through Parliament, employment lawyer, Eleanor Parkes, explores the demand for increasing flexibility in the workplace, provides some top...

In January 2021, employment lawyers, Louise Attrup and Michael Kerrigan presented a legal update to over 100 HR professionals at the annual Hertfordshire CIPD employment update. Louise and Michael highlighted the key employment...

We partnered up with SecondSight and Via Vita Health on in November 2021 to discuss the latest trends for workplace wellbeing in 2022 with leading industry experts. Speakers included:  Louise...

It is refreshing to see that the menopause is being talked about more widely in the media and that people are feeling more comfortable in sharing their experiences and the...

In October 2021, employment specialist, Louise Attrup spoke at the Workplace Wellness in a Post Covid World webinar. We teamed up with Via Vita Health, and Secondsight to offer a...

Employment specialists Louise Attrup and Michael Kerrigan spoke at the most recent virtual CIPD Hertfordshire Branch event in September 2021. Louise and Michael provided a legal update on issues which...

With the furlough scheme coming to an end on 30 September 2021, we are now seeing some employment tribunal decisions surrounding the furlough scheme and redundancy dismissals. We explore two...

With the end of furlough looming, we are seeing an increase in employees needing settlement agreement advice. Settlement agreements are legal documents that prevent an employee from making an employment...

From Monday 16 August people who have come into contact with a positive covid case and are double-jabbed or under 18 years old will no longer be legally required to...

In the wake of proposed compulsory vaccination policies for care home workers and consultation on extending this to NHS staff, we explore the legal ramifications of ‘no jab, no job’...

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we work and live, with many employees working from home and enjoying the benefits this brings. Employers will likely see an increase in...

The Covid-19 pandemic forced employers to make rapid changes to working practices. With the world beginning to open, many employers are considering whether and how those changes will be reversed...

After a long delay, judgment in the Mencap case has finally been handed down by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal...

On 19 February 2021 the Supreme Court handed down a unanimous judgment on the case of Aslam & Farrar v Uber, conclusively determining that Uber drivers are workers and not...

One of the key problems for both employers and workers during the Covid-19 pandemic is how to manage working practices, either through the continued use of office space in accordance...

With continuing pressure on care homes because of the pandemic, and with Covid-19 vaccines recently being introduced, we explore what care home owners should think about to ensure the long-term...

The Ministry of Justice has released its employment tribunal statistics  from Q1 and Q2 2020/21 which shows a significant increase in employment tribunal claims. This further exacerbates the already monumental...

On 4 December 2020 the government launched a consultation on the reform of non-compete post-termination restrictions, which are the clauses that seek to prevent employees from working for a competitor...

In January 2021, employment lawyers, Louise Attrup and Michael Kerrigan presented a legal update to over 100 HR professionals at the annual Hertfordshire CIPD employment update via Zoom. With employment...

This year has been like no other for HR professionals with employment law constantly changing in line with the latest Government developments. In November 2020 employment specialists, Louise Attrup and...

Following Boris Johnson’s announcement that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will be extended until 31 March 2020, the Government has issued further guidance outlining how the extended scheme is...

The Coronavirus Job Retention scheme (CJRS) was due to end at midnight on 31 October 2020, with the Job Support Scheme taking over from 1 November. However, following Boris Johnson’s...

Employment specialists, Louise Attrup and Michael Kerrigan spoke at the November employment law update in association with CIPD Hertfordshire Branch. Our employment specialists presented to HR professionals, answering the common...

The Job Support Scheme is expanding to provide an additional level of support for businesses which are legally required to close as a direct result of national or local lockdown....

During the UK lockdown, the focus in UK employment law was the Government Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and it was easy to lose sight of other important changes in law...

On 24 September 2020, the Government announced the Job Support Scheme, which will follow on from the expiration of the Job Retention Scheme. The Job Support Scheme is designed to...

Figures released by HMRC show that it had received 6,749 reports about fraudulent claims under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“CJRS”). On 28 July HMRC published two new guidance documents...

The most recent update can be found here. We continue to monitor the case of Royal Mencap Society v Tomlinson- Blake, otherwise known as “the Mencap case” following our series...

With the lockdown restrictions easing, and the economy beginning to return to some form of normality, many companies are planning for the recovery of affected business. Unfortunately, for some this...

On 29 May 2020, the Chancellor announced that no new entrants to the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will be accepted after 30 June 2020. As all furloughed employees...

After many weeks of businesses urgently clambering to understand the Government’s job retention scheme and place relevant employees on furlough leave, we are now being encouraged to look at what...

Job Retention Scheme (furlough leave) Furlough leave is where you agree not to work but are entitled to receive at least 80% of your normal salary up to a cap...

The High Court has handed down a landmark judgment which clarifies that employees of an employer who has begun insolvency proceedings can be placed on furlough by an administrator to...

Below are some FAQs employers may ask about furloughing employees, in light of the government’s new guidance in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Who can I claim? What can you...

A far-reaching plan for state intervention unfolded in the middle of March to support business and, ultimately, the workforce, in response to the COVID-19 crisis, which has seen organisations around...

Here are the headline Government announcements in a package of measures to assist SME’s struggling to cope with coronavirus disruption: Sick pay will be available to any employee who is...

ACAS has published some guidance for employers in relation to management of the workplace, sickness absence procedures and sick pay in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. ACAS’ top tips include:...

We were delighted to speak at the annual employment law update in association with CIPD Hertfordshire Branch. Delegates heard from our employment law specialists, Louise Attrup and Michael Kerrigan, who...

With the festive season approaching, companies will be looking forward to celebrating the end of the year with a Christmas party. However, companies must act responsibly by putting provisions in...

This month in Antuzis and Others vs DJ Houghton Catching Services Limited and Others [2019] EWHC 843, the High Court ruled that the directors of a company can be personally...

Debenhams Ottaway were recently involved in an Employment Tribunal case which could affect the employment rights of thousands of peripatetic teachers across the UK. In the case of Scott v...

It is that time of year when many businesses are approaching their financial year end. Managers and HR teams will be looking forward to next year’s budget. With people costs...

Earlier this year we reported on a judgment which established that the majority of sleep in shifts should be counted as “working time” and therefore paid at National Minimum Wage rate. Following on from this...

A decision of particular importance to the care sector the Employment Appeal Tribunal, EAT recently reviewed the position on how those who perform standby shifts or who are required to...