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References – to give, or not to give Whether you’re an employer or employee it’s a well-known fact that the majority of employers will want at least one reference with any job application. Clare Thomas, Employment law specialist at Bowcock and Pursaill explains what your rights are when it comes to references. Are references mandatory? It’s mandatory for an employer to give a reference if it’s part of your contractual agreement. For example, if it’s part of an employment contract, settlement agreement, or it has been otherwise agreed between employer and employee. A reference is also mandatory if the employee’s...
Many businesses are suffering from the spread of coronavirus and considering what options are available to them to manage their workforce during this turbulent time. One option is to lay off employees or put them on short-time working. What is lay off and short-time working? Broadly speaking, laying off employees means that the employer provides employees with no work (and no pay) for a period but they remain employees. Short-time working means providing employees with less work (and less pay) over a period but they remain employees. Lay off and short-time working are temporary solutions to save money but without...
PA to Bowcock and Pursaill Partner Catherine Whittles, Maureen Middleton raised £4,000 in a team of five during a sponsored walk in honour of her close friend who has defied the odds after a terminal cancer diagnosis. Maureen and 300 other people took part in the Twilight Walk in Stockport on 7 February and together raised £15,000. Walking on behalf of her friend who has had incredible success with a Cancer Research clinical trial, Maureen walked around Woodbank Memorial Park surrounded by fellow fundraisers thinking of her good friend the whole way. Maureen’s friend of 20 years was diagnosed with...
The UK left the EU at 11pm on Saturday 31 January. The implementation period is until 31st December. During this time the Government will negotiate with the EU. But what does this mean for employers and workers? Employers can still hire EU workers because they continue to have the right to work here; EU nationals have until June 2021 to apply for settled status. Much of our employment law comes from the EU: working time, holiday pay, maternity rights, discrimination. Under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 these rights are saved as “retained EU law”. But will they stay in place...
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...
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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