The late payment problem is getting worse and is now threatening to destroy thousands of small businesses, according to a survey carried out by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The study of more than 1,200 business owners found that one in three businesses (30%) have seen late payment of invoices increase over the last
Introduction Ikea, Ocado, Next and Morrisons along with several other large employers have recently announced that unvaccinated UK employees, without a valid medical exemption, who take time off work to self-isolate will not be paid their normal ‘day rate’. Instead, they will be paid the legal minimum Statutory Sick Pay rate of just £96.35 a
The Court of Appeal has provided a helpful insight into how to deal with failures to comply with the right to manage procedure set out in the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002. The issue arose in a case involving Eastern Pyramid Group Corp SA v Spire House RTM Co Ltd. The RTM company had served
The franchisor of a care home business has been granted an interim injunction against a franchisee for alleged breaches of their agreement. The case involved Senior Care at Home Ltd (t/as Right at Home UK) and Adult Home Care Ltd. Senior Care was the franchisor of the RIGHT AT HOME brand under which its franchisees
A businessman with an exemplary record has been disqualified from being a director after failing to question a VAT fraud at his company. The case involved the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and XE Solutions Ltd. Three of the company’s directors were disqualified for between 11 and 14 years under the Company
A supplier has failed in its bid to use a force majeure event as a reason to avoid repaying a customer after it failed to fulfil a contract. The issue arose after the two parties entered into a contract in February 2019 for the supply of sulphur diesel. In accordance with the contract, the buyer
A forklift operator who was sacked for attending work after his son contracted Covid has won his claim of unfair dismissal. He said he believed his son was just faking symptoms. David Lewis had worked for The Benriach Distillery Company for 23 years with a clean disciplinary and attendance record. In February 2021, his line
The government is introducing new powers to clamp down on directors who dissolve companies to avoid paying their liabilities. Rogue directors may be required to pay compensation to creditors. The new legislation extends the Insolvency Service’s powers to investigate and disqualify company directors who abuse the company dissolution process. The Rating (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualification
The case involved Oxford Said Business School v Heslop. Heslop had made protected disclosures to her manager concerning the lawfulness of the school’s actions in a procurement process, and potential over-charging and breach of contract in relation to a key client. The manager felt that the allegations were misconceived. Shortly after making those disclosures, Heslop
The case involved JM Solutions UK Ltd. Its two directors lived in Romania, and since the Covid pandemic they communicated with staff via email and telephone. The employee, referred to as Dave, was the company’s office and sales manager, and was responsible for dealing with customers and negotiating rates. His contract of employment contained a