When preparing restrictive covenants to protect a business from competition from former employees, the question of balance is always vitally important. The restrictions need to be tight enough to ensure protection but not so tight that the courts might rule them to be unenforceable. A recent case before the High Court highlighted the balancing act
The new system of Shared Parental Leave (SPL) allowing mothers and fathers to share 52 weeks’ leave came into effect on 5 April 2015. Under the SPL scheme, mothers are still required to take two weeks’ compulsory leave immediately after the birth, but the other 50 weeks can be shared between both parents. The benefits
Robert Bedford, Past President and Council Member of the Hertfordshire Law Society, is an Employment Partner at Machins Solicitors, Luton. Here he considers the effects of the changes in employment legislation on vulnerable and low-paid employees The Introduction of Employment Tribunal Fees The introduction of fees to bring claims in the Employment Tribunal 18 months
Apprentices will get the biggest pay boost when the National Minimum Wage increases come into effect in October. The adult rate will rise by 20p from £6.50 per hour to £6.70, a 3% increase. However, the rate for apprentices will rise by 57p to £3.30 per hour. The government says the larger increase is designed
A woman who was subjected to a tirade of abuse and called a green eyed monster by a man with whom she had previously had a relationship at work has won a claim of sexual harassment. The case involved a claimant who worked as head of sales for a recruitment consultancy. Shortly after joining the
A Court of Appeal ruling that a 10% uplift should be applied to general damages awards in civil claims for pain and suffering does not apply to employment tribunals. That was the decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) in a recent discrimination case. The hearing involved a woman who claimed that her employer had
The government plans to introduce a new online tool designed to increase pay transparency and lead to wage increases for the less well off. Ministers say the National Minimum Wage Accelerator will give businesses and employees “unprecedented” clarity around pay levels by making it easier to find out how much people are paid in different
A surgeon who was sacked after allegedly making racist remarks has failed to get an injunction preventing his employer going ahead with the dismissal. The case involved a consultant general surgeon who attended a meeting with a number of other doctors. After some of those doctors had left, he allegedly made remarks about them that
Shared parental leave comes into effect in April, giving families more flexibility than ever before. Under the scheme, working couples will be able to share untaken maternity leave and pay, following the first 2 weeks’ recovery period that mothers have to take off after birth. It means that up to 50 weeks leave and 37
Leeds United Football Club has won a legal dispute involving an employee who was first selected for redundancy but then summarily dismissed after it was discovered that he had sent out obscene emails several years earlier. The case concerned the club’s former technical director Evan Williams. Mr Williams was made redundant in July 2013. A