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Uber drivers have won the right to be classed as workers in a significant ruling by a London Employment Tribunal.

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The landmark ruling could affect tens of thousands of people who work for companies will similar business models that operate in the gig economy such as Deliveroo. Uber is a modern business phenomenon. If was founded in the USA in 2009 and its smartphone...

Brexit, Hinkley Point and disbanding of DECC have "dealt a blow" to UK renewables sector

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A market analysts’ league table of the most attractive countries to invest in renewable energy has placed Britain – usually a top ten contender – at fourteenth place in the wake of recent events. Brexit uncertainties, the disbanding of the...

Over-50s under increasing strain to retain assets on divorce

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According to new research, the splitting of assets on separation is putting increasing strain on older couples caught up in divorce proceedings. Data suggests that while the total number of divorces is falling, over-50s are the only age group in the UK to...

Almost two-thirds of older workers feel discriminated against

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Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of older workers say that they have felt discriminated against by a prospective employer because of their age, a report has revealed. The report, conducted by online job search site, Totaljobs, found that just six per cent of...

Changes to National Living Wage

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From 1st October 2016 the National Living Wage has changed. Employees aged between 21 to 24 will have an increase in the National Living Wage to £6.95 per hour.  There are lower rates for younger workers. The National Living Wage for workers...

Post-Brexit climate change policy to be discussed following push from House of Lords

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This week, academics and energy sector bodies will discuss the future of Britain’s post-Brexit climate change policy, following a call to action from the House of Lords. The House of Lords EU energy and environment sub-committee launched an inquiry...

Flexible working requests after maternity leave

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In two recent Employment Tribunal cases, it was held that there is no absolute obligation on employers to accept new mothers’ requests to work flexibly on their return from maternity leave. In the case of Whiteman v CPS Interiors Ltd, Ms Whiteman was...

Care home residents are "being made to cover shortfall"

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An increasing number of elderly people are paying more for care homes to subsidise the lower fees paid by local authorities, a charity warned this week. Figures for last year show that four in ten (41 per cent) of those receiving residential care are...

Landmark civil partnership ruling suggests equal rights for same-sex couples

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A landmark victory for a civil partner suggests that same-sex couples have the same rights as heterosexual partners under family law. The long-running case of  Roocroft v Ball  came to a close recently, after an Appeals Court Judge ruled that a...

Communicating a Dismissal

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Can a dismissal be implied by the inaction of an agency employer to find work for its employee? In the case of  Sandle v Adecco , the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) said no. The employee was an agency worker employed by the agency but working on...

RAC executive awarded £1,500 following unfair dismissal

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An executive has been awarded almost £1,500 compensation after being unfairly dismissed by the roadside services provider, RAC. Jim Monteith, aged 52, claimed at a Birmingham Employment Tribunal that he had been the victim of a “sham”...

Asda workers win major step in equal pay claim battle

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Asda has lost an Employment Tribunal ruling in a case involving thousands of workers in supermarkets who sought to compare themselves with higher-paid men in distribution centres. In what is the biggest-ever equal pay case in the private sector, the...

ECC's final report calls for energy storage reform

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MPs are calling upon the Government to embrace “smart technological solutions” and “clean tech” energy projects, following the publication of the Energy and Climate Change Committee (ECC Committee)’s final report. The report...

Woman's emotional plea for people to put their affairs in order

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A woman has urged people to make sure they have a valid Will after opening up about the turmoil which engulfed her following the sudden death of her husband. Danaë and Robin Brook were old friends who had been reunited in middle age and got together...

Discrimination and Tattoos in the Workplace

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New research by Acas suggests that employees with visible tattoos continue to face discrimination in the workplace. The study found that negative attitudes towards people with tattoos can influence the recruitment process, with employers concerned about how...

No-fault divorce: What are your views?

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The House of Commons Library has published a briefing paper on the contentious issue of no-fault divorce – discussing the arguments for and against its introduction. Under current divorce laws, couples seeking a separation need to feasibly demonstrate...

Judge rules that age discrimination did not play a part in unsuccessful job application

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An employment tribunal has ruled that no age discrimination occurred in the rejection of an “overqualified” job applicant. In Jones v Care UK Clinical Services Ltd, the Judge heard that Mr Jones had applied for the role of a marketing...

Solar energy output overtakes electricity generated by coal

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Analysis of new data reveals that the UK’s solar panels generated more electricity than coal over the course of the past six months. In a major boon for the renewable energy sector, the statistics show that solar technology generated 7,000 gigawatt...

Holiday Pay, Commission and Brexit

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The Court of Appeal has handed down its decision in the important case of Lock v British Gas. It is a significant as it relates to the calculation of holiday pay which businesses should take note of as increasingly payments are made to employees in...

Onside on course to help vulnerable people with mfg funding

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A major refurbishment of a Worcester charity’s café has been given a boost thanks to a donation from a leading law firm. Law firm mfg Solicitors have supported county charity Onside, which works with adults who are vulnerable, disadvantaged or...

Law firm's employment team comes out on top in county awards

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The employment team from a leading county law firm has been voted the best in Worcestershire. The 10-strong employment and HR services department from mfg Solicitors has won the Professional Discipline Award at the annual Worcestershire Law Society awards. ...

Tax and trusts expert adds three decades of experience to mfg's private client team

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A respected specialist lawyer with almost three decades of experience has joined law firm mfg Solicitors Tax, wills and trusts expert Jayne Hill, who has spent almost 30 years in the legal sector, has joined the regional firm’s Private Client division...

A number of factors fuel an increase in High Court cases

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A record number of disputes relating to people’s inheritance were heard in the High Court last year. Some 116 matters arising from the Inheritance Act were dealt with by Judges during 2015, compared with just 15 a decade earlier. The reasons for the...

Midlands law firm advise on multi-million pound training hub launch

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Expert advice from a Midlands law firm has helped a state-of-the-art training hub on the way to supporting over 2,000 learners in Shropshire. Law firm mfg Solicitors helped with the setting up of the £3 million Marches Centre of Manufacturing and...

Men are granted "twice as much flexibility" in the workplace than women

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Men are granted “twice as much flexibility” in the workplace than women, a new study has revealed. The study, conducted by conference call service provider, Powwownow, found that men are given six hours to work flexibly per week, compared to a...

BEIS releases Q2 UK energy statistics

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The latest UK energy statistics unveiled by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) suggest that the UK’s low-carbon energy ambitions are beginning to take shape – despite the fact that generation of renewables fell in...