A company has been told it cannot recover wages that were overpaid to employees by mistake over a six-year period. The case illustrates the need for companies to fully understand their obligations when acquiring other businesses and their employees under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (TUPE). The company had bought another
A landlord has received £4.75m compensation after faulty workmanship and equipment led to “catastrophic” flooding at a block of flats. The damage occurred after a pressurised water system was installed throughout the building. The system enabled water to be pumped to the higher floors in the block, but could also produce an effect known as
When couples separate, emotions can often hinder difficult issues being discussed. Mediation is a process that is designed to help people reach an early agreement, with the minimum of cost, delay and confrontation. It can ease the pain of a family breakdown or separation, encourages people to be open and discuss the implications of their
Read the latest copy of our Employment Bulletin addressing Tupe and Insolvency
An investment company has upheld its legal right to make an employee spend 12 months on garden leave before taking up a post with a rival firm. The issue arose when the employee said he was resigning after working for the company as an investment adviser for 14 years. During that time, he had built
The government is launching an independent research programme to tackle the problem of workplace discrimination against pregnant women. The Minister for Women and Equalities, Maria Miller, has given the go-ahead for the project which will analyse the effect of pregnancy discrimination on both families and the economy. The £1m study will be carried out by
People who feel they have not been properly provided for in a relative’s will can ask the courts to step in and grant them a larger share of the deceased person’s estate. However, unless there are exceptional circumstances, they usually have to begin proceedings within a six-month time limit. Failure to so do could mean
A firm providing storage and distribution services has failed to prove that a commercial client was in breach of contract by not granting it exclusive rights as discussed during negotiations. The firm had nothing in writing to prove its claim and had to rely on oral agreements which were far from conclusive. The court heard
A cafe bar has won damages from a rival firm that set up using a similar name. Bocacina Ltd had operated a successful bar, restaurant and gallery inBristolsince 2005. It was sometimes referred to locally as the Bocabar or just Boca, and some of its meals and services were provided under the mark of ‘boca’.
More than 15,000 people have signed up to buy a home under the government’s Help to Buy: equity loan scheme. Housing Minister Kris Hopkins said the figures showed there was a renewed confidence in the housing market. The scheme came into effect on 1 April 2013 and applies to new build properties only. To qualify,