Ensuring compliance with the new Equality Act
Published October 2010
With the majority of the Equality Act having come into force on 1st October 2010, there are some of key changes employers should be particularly aware of:
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Minimum wage increases
Published October 2010
Firms are reminded that minimum wage levels rose on 1st October 2010 in line with recommendations made by the Low Pay Commission.
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City council could face mountain of unfair dismissal claims
Published October 2010
A leading Midland employment lawyer has warned that Birmingham City Council could face a mountain of costly unfair dismissal claims from workers threatened with the axe.
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Entry rights for bailiffs and enforcement officers
Published September 2010
Sometimes enforcement measures are necessary to ensure the successful payment of debts, which can involve going into premises to seize goods. However, there is strict legislation governing when bailiffs and High Court Enforcement Officers (HCEO) can enter commercial and residential premises.
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Illegal employment of unpaid interns
Published September 2010
Private companies are breaking the law and leaving themselves vulnerable to legal action if they employ unpaid interns, according to a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research and Internocracy.
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Corporate Hospitality and the Bribery Act
Published August 2010
The new Bribery Act, which is due to come into force later this year, will bring new risks and ethical issues for companies. For example, it will be an offence to give foreign public officials a bribe or other advantage in order to obtain or retain business.
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Fraud soars to record high
Published August 2010
£1 billion was lost through fraud in the first half of this year according to accountancy firm BDO, with the average fraud valued at £6 million. This is the first time in the seven years that BDO has been monitoring fraud levels that the billion pound barrier has been breached.
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Employers' health questions require thorough checkup
Published August 2010
Employers need to review their pre-employment questionnaires in order to remove any sections on health that are not job specific or otherwise exempt before the Equality Act comes into force in October.
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The Budget 2010
Published June 2010
22 June 2010
Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne delivered his first Budget less than three months after the final Budget of the last parliament. The Conservative Party had promised an ‘emergency’ Budget during the election campaign, with a view that quicker action was needed to bring down the UK’s record budget deficit. While the recession officially ended in the last quarter of 2009, recovery has been sluggish and Mr Osborne, together with his coalition partners from the Liberal Democrats, has had to balance the need to raise taxes and cut spending with the dangers of provoking a ‘double dip’ recession.
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Red tape costs increase for British businesses
Published June 2010
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has called on the government to use the Queen’s speech as a chance to repeal regulations which cost more than they achieve, after its Burdens Barometer showed that the costs for businesses of red tape and new directives rose by £11 billion in the last year.
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Businesses pay more for illegal workers
Published June 2010
The importance of carrying out pre-employment checks on the legal status of workers has been highlighted by the doubling of the cumulative fines paid by businesses employing illegal workers in 2009.
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New tax changes will affect all
Published May 2010
Whether you are rich or poor, working or unemployed, you will be affected by personal tax changes announced by the new Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition Government.
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Firms Face Tougher Penalties Under New Bribery Act
Published May 2010
An international crackdown on bribery means UK firms may face tougher penalties for failing to prevent corruption in future – even if that corruption was carried out by a third party.
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Consistency Needed on Ash Cloud Delays
Published May 2010
The recent travel delays caused by the volcanic ash cloud over Europe has presented bosses with a dilemma over whether to pay staff who have been stranded abroad.
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Delay to Increase in Assured Shorthold Threshold
Published May 2010
The proposed increase in the rent threshold for a tenancy to qualify as an Assured Shorthold Tenancy has been delayed until October, the Ministry of Justice has said.
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‘Fit Notes’ Aim to Cut Absenteeism
Published May 2010
The government’s new ‘fit notes’ scheme came into effect on 6 April, with the aim of saving businesses up to £240million over the next ten years.
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Stealth tax hits non-tax payers
Published May 2010
Another stealth tax is about to creep up on the unsuspecting public, an expert has warned.
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mfg offers advice on fraud emails
Published May 2010
mfg Solicitors is advising clients to be vigilant against scam emails asking people to provide bank details in order to apply for a tax rebate.
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Need for speed on motor insurance claims
Published April 2010
Motorists are being urged to speed up reporting of accidents or risk losing out.
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Last minute simple tips to help you minimise your tax exposure
Published April 2010
Inheritance tax
Start giving away your cash, every tax year you can 'gift' away £3,000 that will not count towards your total estate and if you do not use the full exemption in one year, you can carry it forward but for just one year only. You can also make gifts of any amount of surplus income, although you must be able to prove that it is from surplus income and not capital funds.
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The Budget 2010
Published March 2010
24 March 2010
Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling delivered the last budget of this parliament at a time when the focus has shifted slightly from tackling the recession to how to deal with the large amounts of debt built up in doing so. While the economic data over recent months has been decidedly mixed, most economists agree a recovery of sorts is under way for now, although some fear the economy could slide back into recession unless a credible plan for dealing with the budget deficit is presented. With a general election only months away, normally a ‘giveaway’ budget could be expected, but the state of the public finances has largely prevented this.
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Opening Up Of Legal Market Could Increase Links With IFAs
Published March 2010
From 6th October 2011, solicitors will face competition from banks, supermarkets and insurance companies as the Legal Services Act's Alternative Business Structures (ABS) comes into force.
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Law Commission Calls For Reforms On Elderly Care
Published March 2010
The Law Commission has proposed a single statute on adult social care to replace the existing legal framework.
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Proposed Libel Law Changes
Published March 2010
Following an 18-month review, the Commons Culture, Media and Sports Committee has recommended a number of changes to libel legislation, but stopped short of calling for a new privacy law.
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CSC Argues Against Referral Fee Ban
Published March 2010
The chair of the Claims Standards Council (CSC), Darren Werth, has spoken out against proposals to ban referral fees.
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HMRC launches new guidelines on notifying them of a tax liability
Published March 2010
Most people understand that if you don't complete your tax return, or pay your tax on time you will be penalised by the tax authorities. What is less commonly understood is that you can also be handed a penalty for failing to tell HMRC about a new source of income. To try and cross this void of public understanding they have this week issued concise guidance on what you need to tell them and when, as well as outlining the penalties for failing to comply. Let me suffice to say that there is no defence in saying that HMRC did not send you a tax return, so you did not think you needed to tell them anything.
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Budget date set for 24 March
Published March 2010
The Chancellor, Alistair Darling, will present his budget speech on Wednesday, 24 March, the government has announced.
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Tax Code Notice
Published February 2010
HMRC have refuted an allegation that difficulties with their new PAYE system have led to errors in a 'significant proportion' of tax code updates being incorrect. The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) claimed that 'wrong information is being sent out to huge numbers of people' and has called on HMRC to 'mount a publicity campaign to highlight' the alleged problem with new P2 notices.
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Sorting Out Your Legal Affairs in 2010
Published February 2010
Unfortunately, it is not always easy to keep up-to-date with important legal matters, so the arrival of the New Year represents a good time to make some resolutions.
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Forming Contracts – The Battle of the Forms
Published February 2010
At the end of 2009, the Court of Appeal considered whether a seller’s or buyer’s contract terms apply – commonly known as the ‘battle of the forms’.
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Proposed Scrapping of the Compulsory Retirement Age
Published February 2010
The Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has promised to focus on reforming the retirement age in its pre-election campaign, putting extra pressure on all parties to include it in their manifestos.
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New Penalties for Breach of Data Protection Act
Published February 2010
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has announced new penalties for serious breaches of the Data Protection Act, due to come into force on 6th April 2010.
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To Pursue Or Not To Pursue?
Published January 2010
The Pre-Action Conduct Protocol (“PDPAC”)
The PDPAC, which became effective from 6th April 2009, has incorporated new guidelines into the Civil Procedure Rules. They affect anyone who has a dispute with another over money or otherwise.
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New Guidelines Put Forward To Help Assess Mental Capacity
Published January 2010
Lawyers and doctors have been given a new set of guidelines to help their assessment of mental capacity.
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Government Caps The Number Of Family Legal Aid Cases
Published January 2010
A change in government policy is reportedly forcing Family legal aid lawyers to turn away people seeking legal advice.
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European Commission Threaten Legal Action On Failure To Protect Workers From Discrimination
Published January 2010
The European Commission has accused the Government of failing to incorporate aspects of European Directives into UK law, and has given a two-month deadline to put things right.
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Public In Favour Of New Laws To Challenge Uninsured Drivers
Published January 2010
Government plans to introduce a new offence of 'keeping a vehicle without insurance’ have proven popular with the motoring public.
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10 Ways to Save Tax
Published January 2010
Before we get to either the budget, or the end of the fiscal year when new higher rates of income tax and personal allowance withdrawal will bite its time to look at ways of reducing tax liabilities.
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Guaranteeing your Health and Welfare
Published January 2010
A loved-one’s enjoyment of their final years can depend on who has their true interests at heart, a Shropshire lawyer has warned.
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When can a Grazing Agreement Become an AHA Protected Tenancy?
Published January 2010
For the majority the granting of a grazing licence would fall outside the scope of the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986. This is because the 1986 Act applies to a ‘contract of tenancy’ of ‘agricultural land’. However, Agricultural Land includes land used for grazing and a contract of tenancy means a letting for a term of years or from year to year and it is worth considering whether a so-called grazing agreement granted before 1 September 1995 enjoys the protection of the 1986 Act.
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2010 mfg for business News
2009 mfg for business News
2008 mfg for business News
2007 mfg for business News
