The Land Registry says its commitment to developing new digital services is making the process of buying a home simpler and quicker. One of its main innovations is a system allowing homeowners to re-mortgage their property by signing their mortgage deeds online. Lord Henley, the minister with responsibility for the Land Registry, said: “People are
Judges will not allow parents to make numerous contact applications spanning several years if the process could be detrimental to their children, as illustrated in a recent case before the Court of Appeal. The case involved a couple who had separated when their children were aged five and two. The mother had made unproven allegations
A tribunal has held that Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) was wrong to dismiss an employee who raised questions about health and safety practices. The judge likened its HR process to “a show trial in the former Soviet Union”. The case involved energy trader Donald Nutt who was employed by SSE for 16 years. After
Two company directors have been held personally liable for their company’s failures over minimum wage rates, holiday pay and overtime. The case involved Lithuanian nationals who had come to the UK to work for DJ Houghton Catching Services Ltd as chicken catchers on farms. Their employment was subject to the regulatory regime of the Gangmasters
The Employment Tribunal has ruled that a female finance administrator was discriminated against when her male replacement was paid £3,500 more than her. The case involved Mrs J Broom, who had been employed in various roles by Alternative Care Ltd for nearly two years. At the time she resigned from the company, she was a
A teaching assistant was discriminated against by her employer, who did not take the necessary steps to allow her to work in comfort with her disability. That was the decision of the Employment Tribunal in a case involving an assistant who worked at Aycliffe Village Primary School in County Durham from February 2006. Mrs S
The latest figures on the gender pay gap in large businesses show a slight reduction on last year. Legislation introduced in 2017 means that every employer with 250 or more employees has to publish the differences between what they pay their male and female staff in average salaries and bonuses. This is the second year
The government has confirmed that it will introduce new legislation to end the blame game for divorcing couples. It’s hoped the new approach will help reduce family conflict. The move follows a public consultation where family justice professionals and those with direct experience of divorce voiced their support for reform. New legislation will therefore be
A female economist has been awarded £19,000 after she was overlooked for promotion by her employer who instead gave the job to a less qualified male colleague. Olwen Renowden joined the Office for National Statistics in August 2016 as a grade 7 economist. In February 2017, she applied for an advertised grade 6 economist role
A trainee emergency call operator was racially discriminated against when he was wrongly accused of distributing drugs. Jerry Ogbonna, a black employee of Partnership of East London Cooperatives (PELC), was suspended without pay after being accused of consuming and distributing illegal drugs. However, he had actually been taking Pro Plus – a caffeine supplement. An