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February 2012
Putting lawyers in touch with the youth of Oldham
Pearson Hinchliffe partner, Michael Pitt, takes over as 2012 Oldham Law Association President.
MoreLord Mandelson to defer extension to flexible working
21st October 2008
In a bid to ease the impact of the recession, the Government may attempt to delay plans to extend rights to flexible working.
Secretary of State for Business, Lord Mandelson, has instructed his department to find ways to relieve the financial pressures on businesses and survive the economic downturn. In a so called "action programme for business” It appears he has resolved “to be completely focused on getting UK business through the present economic downturn and emerging stronger on the other side".
Amid competing packages from the Conservatives to lessen the impact of the recession, other cost-cutting measures being examined include: increased government borrowing, help for small businesses, restraints on repossession for defaulting homeowners and a potentially divisive part-privatisation of the Royal Mail.
Labour's plans to extend family-friendly employment policies, including the right to ask for flexible working from parents with children under the age of six, were to be extended to those with children under the age of sixteen. A proposed extension of paid maternity leave from 39 to 52 weeks may now also be put on hold.
However, Lord Mandelson’s floated proposals have quickly stirred up controversy. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development issued its response saying that the plans would “do more harm than good”.
Patricia Hewitt, one of his predecessors, was quoted saying, "I understand the need and desire of any new secretary of state to look at what is going on in their department, but I do not think people should see flexible working as a cost to business, and therefore something to be cut back on. It can be of real benefit to employers."
As a plan to deal with the problems facing the economy, the TUC general secretary, Brendan Barber hit out at the idea as, "an astonishingly irrelevant response".
He added, “Postponing a simple right to request flexible working would not save a single job in the small business sector".
The right to request flexible working has been introduced in stages since its launch in 2003, with numerous changes taking place in that period to apply to greater numbers of individuals. There are currently 14 million employees in the UK working flexibly.
At time of writing (21 October 2008), precise details of the Government's plans were still emerging. Employers and employees may therefore wish to seek clarification from an employment lawyer or HR specialist.
Click here to speak to a specialist employment lawyer.
January 2012
Company and commercial law reforms to reduce red tape
Companies of all shapes and sizes have been asked for their views on how to tackle unnecessary bureaucracy in company and commercial law.
MoreJanuary 2012
Increase in unfair dismissal qualifying period will apply only to new employees
From 6 April 2012 the qualifying period of service for making a claim increases from one to two years.
MoreJanuary 2012
Maximum compensation for unfair dismissal increases from 1 February 2012
Annual revision of employment tribunal award limits and other amounts payable under employment legislation.
MoreDecember 2011
Health and safety laws to be cut by half
Government plans to slash health and safety red tape will mean substantial savings for small firms, business groups have said.
MoreNovember 2011
Weight Watchers case: the importance to employers of employment status.
The Upper Tier Tribunal holds 1,700 ‘leaders’ at Weight Watchers were employees for tax purposes.
MoreSeptember 2011
How to Conduct a Disciplinary Hearing
A recent presentation by Employment solicitor, Susan Mayall, setting out the stages for handling a disciplinary, referencing the ACAS Code of Conduct.
June 2011
ACAS Advice leaflet “Holidays and Holiday Pay”
Download the guidance covering arrangements for holidays and holiday pay.
October 2010
Recent Case Study: Commercial Landlord and Tenant - An Authorised Guarantee Agreement
Authorised Guarantee Agreements keep the original tenant on the hook in case a third party assignee defaults; they should be drafted with care.
July 2010
Recent Case Study: Doing Battle in the Boardroom
How Pearson Hinchliffe Commercial Law helped members of the Board of Directors achieve the outcome they sought in their boardroom dispute with a senior executive director.
May 2010
How the Mergers & Acquisitions team helped Lanes Group PLC achieve their LAS sell-off
Drainage specialists dispose £12.3 million majority stake in Lanes Assistance Services.
March 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.
February 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.