The recent prorogation of Parliament meant that the Government’s proposed change to the basis of the calculation of the fee paid by the Executors to apply for a Grant of Probate, which proved highly controversial, could not be implemented as intended. We reported earlier this year how this proposed change appeared to have been agreed in principle, with the motion to approve the Non-Contentious Probate (Fees) Order scheduled for a vote in the House of Commons and an initial implementation date of April 2019 set. Kevin Horn, Private Client Partner, explains more here about the increase, why it caused such controversy, and what the future may hold for the increase.
Most likely, there have been times when work has been too busy for us to take a proper lunch break, but what happens if there is no data or record of when this happens?
The case of Hallett v Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust illustrates the importance of ensuring employees take their contractual breaks and the financial implications for not doing so.
The traditional working structure has been undergoing a transformation in recent months and with the advent of technology and programs like Skype and Slack, employees being able to work remotely or from home is becoming more common place. In turn, this has led to an increase in flexible working requests so employees can have a better work-life balance. If an employee does make that request you can trial a flexible working arrangement; in this article, our Employment team detail what to do if a flexible working request is made and when to use a trial period.
The length of time Family Mediation can take will depend on your own situation and the particular arrangements you are looking to resolve. In our experience, individuals require between two and four sessions, lasting approximately one to two hours each, however there are no restrictions on how many sessions you can have. One of the many benefits of Family Mediation is that we will work to a timetable that is practical for you. Claire Knight, Resolution trained and Law Society accredited Family Mediator, explains here what can be discussed in Family Mediation and how long it may take to reach an agreement.
Fostering a positive atmosphere in the workplace is important and employees that get along and enjoy working together is always a welcome sight to employers, but what happens if that friendliness is over stepped?
It is well known that pregnant employees are entitled to time off to attend antenatal appointments, and rights for partners are now being extended. The introduction of Shared Parental Leave is one example, and rights to accompany a pregnant woman to an appointment have also been revised. In this article, the Employment team discuss who is eligible to attend antenatal appointments and what your employers might request from you.
Most of us will spend the majority of our time at work, and it is our employer’s legal duty to ensure we work in a safe environment. This is not always the case however, with the Health and Safety Executive reporting 555,000 injuries occurred at work in 2017/18. Sustaining an injury in any situation will be life changing, but if it happens at work you may also be worried about approaching it with your employer for fear of dismissal or detrimental treatment. Aimee Brown, Personal Injury Executive, explains here what you should do if you have had an accident at work and how we can help you move forward with your life
The case of Kuppala v HBOS illustrates the importance of factoring in a known disability when considering issues of misconduct. Employers should make sure to fully investigate how a known disability could have impacted the misconduct and whether dismissal is a fair decision.
As an employer, the physical and mental wellbeing of your staff should always be a top priority. Occupational Health is a key component in achieving this goal and in this article, our Employment team detail what Occupational Health is, when you should refer to Occupational Health and what preventative measures they can assist with.
A Grant of Probate is the legal document that allows you to administer the estate of a loved one who has passed away. There are some circumstances when this may not be needed, and if there is not a Will then you will need to apply for a Grant of Letters of Administration. Sue Nicholson, Associate Solicitor in our Private Client department, explains here what this legal document is, how to apply for it and how we can help you understand your role in carrying out the probate and estate administration.
The cost of Family Mediation will depend on your own personal circumstances as that will determine how many sessions you need. There are three separate costs to consider; the first for the Mediation Information Assessment Meeting (MIAM), the second cost for the Mediation sessions themselves and the third cost for the preparatory work involved. Claire Knight, Resolution trained and Law Society accredited Family Mediator, explains more about the costs involved and why Mediation can be more cost effective than going to Court.
Recently, a bus driver from Norwich was suspended from work while he is investigated under disciplinary policy for refusing to drive a bus with its number in rainbow colours.
When interviewing for new employees, you may well encounter a candidate that discloses a prior conviction to you. If that conviction is “spent”, then you must treat the applicant as if the conviction never happened, and in many cases it is unlawful to refuse to hire a candidate based on that fact. However, there are some circumstances where you can lawfully reject and applicant with a spent conviction, and in this article our Employment team detail those circumstances, as well as what a spent and unspent conviction is.
Equity release is an increasingly popular way for individuals to fund their retirement or help a loved one onto the property ladder. In recent years the practice has become more regulated in order to protect those releasing equity, namely with the introduction of the Equity Release Council (ERC) in 1991. We are delighted to have now joined the ERC; here Kiri Saunders-Brown, Equity Release specialist, explains more about why we have joined and how we can help you if you are considering equity release.
