The Coronavirus Act 2020, which is now in force, has introduced key measures providing protection to business tenants who may be struggling due to the outbreak of coronavirus. The key points for commercial landlords and tenants to be aware of are as follows. A right of re-entry or forfeiture The Coronavirus Act 2020 prohibits commercial
HMRC published the first official guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme on 26 March 2020. We have summarised the key points from the guidance below. Eligibility 1) The Scheme is open to all UK employers that operated a PAYE payroll scheme on or before 28 February 2020. 2) Claims cannot be submitted on behalf
A secretary who resigned after her managing director said she wouldn’t employ someone because she was black has won her claim of unfair dismissal. Caroline Hobbs worked for Avon Care Homes from November 2015 until she resigned without notice in April 2018. This followed an employment search for a new care home manager in which
The Government is to step up its naming and shaming of employers who fail to pay their workers the National Minimum or Living Wage. Meanwhile, it will increase support for employers to help them comply with low pay legislation. It says the changes, which follow a review of the process, will see naming rounds occur
An employer has won a dispute over whether an employee was entitled to three months’ notice while on a fixed-term contract. The case involved a teacher, Ms Kilraine. Her letter of engagement stated that she would be employed from 1 September 2013 until 31 August 2014. The letter identified the applicable pay scale for her
The workplace advisory service Acas has issued new guidelines for employers making it clear that they cannot use non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to silence employees who want to make claims of sexual harassment or discrimination. Acas Chief Executive Susan Clews said: “”The news has reported on victims coming forward that have alleged appalling abuse by high-profile figures who
The Employment Appeal Tribunal has upheld a decision that a police officer was discriminated against due to assumptions about her hearing impairment. The officer wanted to transfer to Norfolk, but her application was rejected by the Acting Chief Inspector, who said her hearing was not up to the medical standard required to perform front-line duties.
Transport for London (TFL) has successfully defended a disability discrimination claim that hinged on the interpretation of employment law. The case involved Mr Charles Ishola, who had been employed by TFL for almost eight years. He was disabled, suffering from depression and migraines. The discrimination issue arose after he complained about a fellow-employee’s conduct. An
Athena Brands has won a contract dispute with Superdrug Stores over the supply of various cosmetic products. Athena claimed that it had entered into a binding agreement with Superdrug in an exchange of emails with one of its employees. In the course of the email exchange, Athena had asked the employee to confirm that he
A property company has lost its appeal against a tribunal ruling that it had failed to correctly calculate the level of service charges payable by leaseholders. The case involved a mixed commercial and residential development owned by Avon Ground Rents Ltd. The leaseholders were contractually obliged to contribute through a service charge to the cost