Employers who lose an equal pay claim could now be subject to an equal pay audit on their entire workforce. The update to the Equality Act came into force on 1 October and means that tribunals are obliged to order the audits on any employers who lose an equal pay claim. There are a few
Machins Solicitors LLP has been recommended in The Legal 500 United Kingdon in the following seven practice areas: – South East Corporate and commercial – Corporate and commercial – Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx– South East Dispute resolution – Commercial litigation – Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx– South East Dispute resolution – Debt recovery– South East Human
More than 20% of businesses would be put under considerable financial strain if interest rates were to rise by one percentage point, according to a recent survey. The Business Distress Index was conducted by insolvency trade body R3, which interviewed decision makers at 500 businesses. The findings showed that 16% of businesses would be in
The government’s ‘right to rent’ scheme, which will require landlords to check the immigration status of tenants, will be piloted in Birmingham and the West Midlands from 1 December 2014. Landlords will need to check a tenant’s ‘right to rent’ before providing a property. This includes seeing evidence of identity and citizenship. Landlords will then
Nearly half of all working mothers would consider sharing their parental leave with their partners, according to a recent survey. The new system of Shared Parental Leave (SPL) allows the mother and father to share 52 weeks of parental leave and comes into effect on 5 April 2015. Mothers whose Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC)
The government is calling on businesses, unions and employees to help it ensure there are no loopholes in the law banning exclusivity clauses in zero hours contracts. Ministers fear some unscrupulous employers may try to get round the ban by methods such as offering contracts guaranteeing one or two hours’ work a week. The issue
The number of sex discrimination claims has risen over the last two years. There were 13,700 cases in 2013 compared with 10,700 in 2012. Research from the Times newspaper shows that they now make up 55% of all discrimination claims, whereas they made up just over 33% two years ago. Sex discrimination claims are now
Late payment and cash flow remain two of the key problems faced by businesses in the UK, according to a recent survey carried out by credit card company American Express. The survey revealed that 95% of business owners and managers continue to prioritise efficient cash flow practices, and consider it a key factor towards long-term
A court has ruled that a tenant’s breaches of contract in relation to business premises were serious enough to justify the landlord’s decision not renew the lease. The case involved a landlord who owned a commercial and residential property. It was leased to a tenant with an agreement that it would be used as a
A company has been ordered to pay a consultant his fee for helping to negotiate a business deal, despite there being no written record of any agreement being made. The company was part of a Swedish industrial and transportation conglomerate. It had been working on a contract with the oil company Shell. The consultant was