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Women over 50 in the workplace By 2022 this will be one in six. Does your organisation have a menopause policy, or a menopause or wellbeing champion? Many women will have perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms that affect their work: for one in three the symptoms are severe. These range from difficulty sleeping and tiredness, to anxiety and panic attacks. If a worker does not get the help and support they need, they can become ill, lose confidence in their work, develop mental health problems. Workers who take time off because of menopausal symptoms are unlikely to tell their employer the...
Harassment can blight the lives of workers and wreck their careers. It can also land employers in hot water because they are responsible for ensuring workers do not face harassment: they must take reasonable steps to protect their workers – or be liable for the harassment No workplace is immune to harassment. Sadly many reports of harassment are met with threats to the victim, disciplinary hearings and dismissals, comments that they are “over sensitive”. And did you know that something can amount to harassment even if that’s not what was intended? A new guide “Sexual harassment and harassment at work”...
There are nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation; it’s unlawful to discriminate against them. In the workplace this means care must be taken with recruitment, terms and conditions, pay and benefits, promotions and training, dismissal and redundancy. The Employment Tribunal recently looked at ethical veganism. Is it philosophical belief deserving protected status? Environmental concerns are soaring up the agenda: veganism is increasing because of concern for animal welfare and the environment; workers are concerned about their employer’s carbon footprint, and whether...
In April 2020 there are many changes coming regarding employment law. Clare Thomas, Solicitor at Bowcock and Pursaill is current helping many clients to prepare for the changes in employment law that lie ahead. Here she looks at what you should be considering and what the possible impact could be on businesses. Changes to the use of Agency Workers The Swedish Derogation is an exemption from the equal treatment principle as regards pay where agency workers have a permanent employment contract with an employment business and are paid between assignments when they are not working for a hirer. The exemption...
Maureen Middleton, PA to Partner Catherine Whittles, is embarking on a sponsored walk in honour of her close friend who has defied the odds after a terminal cancer diagnosis. Maureen will be taking part in the Twilight Walk in Stockport on 7 February on behalf of her friend who has had incredible success with a Cancer Research clinical trial. Maureen’s friend of 20 years was diagnosed with cancer, which rapidly developed to stage 4. After a year of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, he was told there was nothing more doctors could do, and he was expected to live between seven months...
Most commercial property leases provide for the landlord to insure their building so in the event of any damage insurance covers the cost of repair or replacement. However, issues arise where damage is caused by an uninsured risk which raises the question – who should foot the bill? Our commercial property specialist Joy Hancock explains. While building insurance usually means the tenant is not responsible for the cost of repairing damage covered by the policy, The Code for Leasing Business Premises made in 2007 has helped to tackle the issue of who should be liable for these. The Code states...
Clients visiting our Hanley office at Festival Park may well have spotted a new face among our legal team. Intern Christina Ioannou applied to come and spend her legal placement here at Bowcock & Pursaill Solicitors, and is currently in her third year of studying law at Bournemouth University. Originally from Stoke-on-Trent, Christina has been supporting and shadowing our Hanley staff, helping with a wide variety of legal matters from residential conveyancing to litigation matters to resolve disputes. Christina says: “I’m originally from Stoke-on-Trent but left to study for my degree, and as part of that I’m carrying out this...
Bowcock & Pursaill Solicitors are again proud sponsors of Leek Cricket Club which celebrates its 175th anniversary this year. Visitors to the club located on the Macclesfield Road will now spot a Bowcock & Pursaill Solicitors sponsorship banner within the stunning grounds. Chairman Brian Mellor approached Bowcock & Pursaill having done business with the firm for more than 20 years. He said: “We’re a community-based club with three senior sides and nine junior teams, including an under eight’s, and obviously running a club of this size comes with considerable running costs. “Bowcock & Pursaill have supported us before by sponsoring...
Unless specific steps are taken prior to completion of a lease of business premises, a tenant usually has an automatic right to renew their tenancy under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (or the ‘1954 Act’). Our commercial property specialist Joy Hancock explains how this right can be excluded from new leases through a provision known as ‘contracting out’. By contracting out, the parties agree to take the lease outside of the automatic renewal rights as afforded to a tenant under the 1954 Act. It is not uncommon for landlords to insist these renewal rights are removed or excluded from a...
Founded in 1927, Bowcock & Pursaill has been our clients’ number one choice for solicitors in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire and Cheshire for almost 100 years. We also act on behalf of clients throughout the country.
The firm prides itself on its customer service, offering detailed and bespoke advice to clients thanks to our small and highly specialised team of partners, solicitors and legal executives based in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.
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