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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.
MoreUK’s first criminal conviction for non-payment of National Minimum Wage
7th July 2008
The owners of a Yorkshire butcher's shop have become the first employers in the UK to be convicted of failing to pay staff the national minimum wage (Reported by HMRC July 3rd, 2008).
David Jackson and Pauline Smout became the first employers to face criminal charges for National Minimum Wage offences. The father and daughter pleaded guilty and were ordered to pay court costs plus £11,000 in compensation to two former employees.
Jackson, from Pontefract, and Smout, from Sheffield, were also found guilty of failing to keep adequate pay records and falsifying records in an attempt to show HM Revenue & Customs that they had been paying the correct amounts.
In sentencing Jackson and Smout, Deputy District Judge Hatton said:
"The appalling way you treated these employees meant that both [employees] lost out. The simple fact was that they are entitled to this money, and they will get it"
Andy Millican, Criminal Investigation Team Leader for HM Revenue & Customs said: "This sends a message to employers, large or small, that HMRC and RCPO will actively pursue those we suspect of flouting National Minimum Wage law."
Employment Relations Minister Pat McFadden said: "Everyone has a right to the National Minimum Wage and this case reflects the Government's determination to crack down on rogue employers who underpay their staff.
"That is also why we are toughening up our powers to punish those who don't pay the minimum wage, including introducing potentially unlimited fines and giving inspectors greater powers to investigate wrongdoing."
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "There must be no hiding place for rogue employers who try to cheat their employees out of the National Minimum Wage."
From 1 October 2007 the minimum wage for workers aged 22 or over was raised to £5.52 an hour.
For 18 to 21 year olds it is £4.60 an hour, and for 16 to 17 year olds it is £3.40 an hour.
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.