The length of time the economy has had to shut down as a result of Covid-19 means that businesses are facing tough cost-cutting decisions.   As redundancies are neither cheap nor easy, the alternatives to achieve savings yet retain skilled staff are very much worth examining.  This article looks at some of the options, together with…
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As we start to contemplate the idea of ourselves and colleagues returning to workplaces, even if this may still be some way off, we all need to prepare ourselves for an uncomfortable ride in places. I think we will all, at some level, feel a little nervous at the idea of a sudden return to…
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Our Menzies Law Guide to All Things Furlough went out to you on Thursday with the caveat that Government guidelines on furlough were changing rapidly.  Just to prove it, the Government has today updated (or clarified) some aspects of its Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) as follows: You can re-hire and furlough anyone CHANGED: (this…
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FAQ’s and what we know so far… By Anne-Marie Boyle and Luke Menzies This is a long blog post and rather more dry than our usual fayre.  But we think you will forgive us, in view of the importance of the topic and our wish to share the following information with you all.  It is hard…
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If you found my first and second blogs on the IR35 reforms helpful, let me share with you contenders 7 to 10 in my ‘most irksome’ list. But first, a quick update.  You may be aware that the government promised a review of the off-payroll working rules (IR35).  The HMRC have now announced that changes…
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2020 looks to be a busy year for employment law changes.  We’ve created a time-table of major employment law changes you may want to consider to help you with your planning. Case law developments anticipated in 2020 In addition to the list below, we’re expecting outcomes on some important legal cases this year.  Keep your…
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Perhaps the biggest employment law change of 2020 (in terms of you needing to change how you do things) arrives on 6 April.  It has the potential to cause headaches for HR practitioners, as it involves changes to the right to receive a written statement of particulars of employment.  Changes include not just when an…
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Now, I am not trying to be a Scrooge about this – but we need to talk about Secret Santa.  It has now become almost mythically traditional for workplaces to indulge in this ‘secret’ present giving where everyone is forced to give a secret present to another member of staff. We’ve all been there: trying…
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In the last of our series looking at Pregnancy and Maternity in business, Anne-Marie Boyle looks at the tricky issues thrown up where a dismissal situation (including redundancy) arises during or after a period of maternity leave. We know that in life (despite our best efforts), nothing stays the same and this is very much…
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The recent ousting of McDonald’s CEO for having a workplace relationship provides a useful chance to look at the issue of office romances and ask ourselves – what is appropriate for businesses nowadays? The US approach I worked in the City of London in the early noughties.  There was a lot of eye rolling amongst…
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