March 2010
Empty property relief rates 2010/2011
For the year 2010/11, empty commercial properties with rateable values of up to £18,000 will be exempt from business rates.
MoreDisputes cost UK firms 374,000 working days last year.
28th January 2010
New figures reveal the number of working days lost through industrial disputes in the UK has rocketed in recent months.
According to data from the Office for National Statistics, which measures figures monthly, an annual figure of approximately 374,000 working days were lost during the 12 months up to October 2009, with 90 separate stoppages occurring mainly in the public sector.
Around 175,000 days were lost in October 2009 through disputes, the increase mainly due to the postal workers strike, according to the ONS, although there were also disputes involving council and transport workers that led to industrial action.
The 12-monthly total is still less than half the figure for the 12 months to October 2008, when 840,000 days were lost through 139 labour disputes, involving more than half a million workers.
Putting in place appropriate procedures to deal with discipline and grievance could save employers money and other vital resources claims employment law partner, Michael Pitt of Pearson Hinchliffe Commercial Law.
Many employee disputes can be avoided by being prepared to deal with conflicts when they occur as quickly and amicably as possible, saving firms time, money, valuable productivity and hard-earned reputations, says Mr. Pitt.
“Employment disputes and conflicts are hot topics and ones that small to medium sized businesses do well to avoid running in to. Even in small well-managed teams conflict can rear its ugly head especially where people are under pressure. The cost to a business of not being alert to staff conflict can be counted not only financially but in the damage to staff morale and productivity.”
Prevention is better than cure
“My advice is to create open and honest dialogue with employees, with clear conflict resolution procedures in place from day one. By issuing an employee handbook (a statement of the policies of the business and how the business is to be conducted) and contracts of employment, misunderstandings or misstatements can be headed off before they occur – I regularly see a lack of these documentary measures ultimately create legal liabilities for businesses.”
“Regardless of the size or complexity of your business these steps will help to create a happy and contented workforce and reduce the potential for disputes”, concluded Mr. Pitt.
February 2010
A third of SME bosses are unaware of their employment law obligations, says BIS.
A Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) study uncovers employers’ poor knowledge and management of responsibilities.
MoreFebruary 2010
New Guidance on Fit Notes published today
Guidance on plans to replace sick notes with fit notes is now available to employers from the Department for Work and Pensions.
MoreFebruary 2010
CIPD predicts public sector recession
The UK economy is facing more redundancies, with substantial cuts expected in the public sector, report says.
MoreFebruary 2010
Pre-Budget Report checklist
This checklist highlights some of the key issues from the Pre-Budget Report that are likely to have an impact on small businesses.
MoreFebruary 2010
Oldham Construction Sector
On 3 February 2010 Corporate Commercial partner Roger Hinchliffe delivered a presentation entitled, ‘Joint Ventures’ to the Oldham Construction Sector group.
January 2010
Debt Recovery Service
With our specialist commercial Debt Recovery service you can significantly increase the speed and likelihood of recovering the money owed to your business.
January 2010
PH Employment Direct
The Employment team at Pearson Hinchliffe Commercial Law have created PH Employment Direct - a user-friendly and simple service that gives you access to the best advice at the end of a phone 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
October 2009
M&A Opportunities
A live selection of current assignments offered by Pearson Hinchliffe Commercial Law or those of our professional partner organisation,
August 2008
Franbar Holdings Limited –v- Patel and Others
Concerning the Derivative Actions introduced by the Companies Act 2006.
July 2008
Systime Inc.
Pearson Hinchliffe Commercial Law's specialist Company & Commercial team has advised multi-national Systime Inc. on an important contractual document implemented Europe-wide.
June 2008
Dashfield v Davidson, do your company’s articles reflect your intentions?
When a shareholder died unexpectedly, under the articles the company then purchased the shares based on accounts for the last completed financial year prior to the death - 2 years prior.