In a decision which significantly strengthens the hand of workplace whistleblowers, and self-employed people in particular, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has ruled that a health and safety consultant was a legally protected ‘worker’ despite not having the benefit of an employment contract. As was
The full weight of Sir Richard Branson’s business empire has come crashing down on an entrepreneur who had the temerity to register an Internet address incorporating the composite word ‘virginmoney’. The businessman specialised in helping those who had been mis-sold payment protection insurance but found
Employers are reminded that from today, 30 June 2014, the right to request flexible working arrangements is extended to all employees who have completed 26 weeks’ qualifying service. The statutory procedure for dealing with such requests is repealed and replaced with a Code of Practice,
In a case which illustrates that country living is not always an idyll, a homeowner who objected on noise and odour grounds to his neighbour’s plans to keep chickens and goats in a new agricultural building has had his challenge to planning permission granted for
Thirteen years of heated debate over the rateable value of New Scotland Yard, the iconic headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, has resulted in a tribunal ruling which is unlikely to satisfy the force and will only result in a modest reduction in its bills. The
An important concept that is found at the heart of most businesses is its branding. A company’s name or logo can often be its most valuable asset and therefore it is vital that this is protected. In order to sufficiently protect their brand, a business
13th June 2014 saw changes to Consumer Contract Regulations when the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 come into force. These new regulations govern the pre-contractual requirements of certain consumer contracts, including provisions focused on cost and cancellation rights. They also provide
In a decision with important implications for the Metropolitan Green Belt, the Court of Appeal has ruled that exploratory drilling for hydrocarbons in the Surrey hills is a form of mineral extraction and therefore capable of being an ‘appropriate’ development. Europa Oil and Gas Limited
Following a consultation seeking ways to prevent the abuse of zero hours contracts whilst also maximising opportunities both for employers seeking to create jobs and for individuals to obtain work that suits them, the Government has announced that it will ban the inclusion in such
There will be red faces at the London School of Economics (LSE) after it was hit with a £10,200 penalty by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for filing its employers’ annual return and end of year summary more than a month late. The LSE, which
