Court finds UK gangmaster liable for modern slavery victims – The Guardian

‘A British company has been found liable for the first time for victims of modern slavery in a landmark high court judgment.’

Full story

The Guardian, 10th June 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Cavanagh and others v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions – WLR Daily

Cavanagh and others v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2016] EWHC 1136 (QB)

The first and second claimant employees were, it was assumed for present purposes, employed by the defendant employer under civil service terms and conditions and various collective agreements. Under “check-off arrangements” in the employer’s deductions from pay policy, the employees had opted for their subscriptions to the third claimant trade union to be paid by deduction from their salary and paid by the employer to the union. Latterly the check-off arrangements had been included in the employer’s salary policy published on the staff intranet. When the employer ended the check-off arrangements, the claimants brought a claim against it, contending that the employees had a contractual right to insist that the employer continue with the arrangement enforceable by the trade union under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

WLR Daily, 13th May 2016

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Fiduciary Duties, Football, and the Fundamental Importance of the Contractual Relationship – Sports Law Bulletin

‘Can a senior employee be ordered to pay back his past contractual remuneration to his employer as a remedy for breach of fiduciary duty, in particular a duty to confess his own wrongdoing? There has been an increasing trend over the past few years for employers, outraged at the belatedly discovered wrongdoing of a trusted senior employee, to not only seek to justify summary dismissal on the basis of after-discovered gross misconduct but also to go a step further and try to recover the salaries or bonuses already paid to the employee prior to discovery of the misconduct.’

Full story

Sports Law Bulletin, 7th June 2016

Source: www.sportslawbulletin.org

BSB echoes Bar Council concerns on equality and access to justice – The Bar Council

‘The Chairman of the Bar Council, Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC has signalled agreement with the Bar Standards Board’s (BSB) concern for equality and diversity in the profession. As the independent regulator reported in its recently published Risk Outlook yesterday, the Bar Council also welcomed the focus on access to justice and on ensuring that consumers’ needs are properly met following the prolonged period of cuts to our system of justice.’

Full press release

The Bar Council, 18th May 2016

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

UK has one of worst records for gender equality at work – report – The Guardian

Posted May 18th, 2016 in employment, equality, gender, news, remuneration, sex discrimination, statistics by tracey

‘Researchers rank Britain 11th out of 18 countries, including US, France and Spain, for factors such as pay and board level representation.’

Full story

The Guardian, 18th May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Childcare vouchers and maternity leave – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Employment Appeal Tribunal ruling on childcare vouchers is at odds with the approach taken by most employers.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th May 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Restaurant staff ‘should keep their tips’ – BBC News

Posted May 3rd, 2016 in consultations, employment, news, remuneration, service charges by tracey

‘Waiting staff should receive their tips in full and it should be clearer to customers that gratuities are optional, the business secretary has said.’

Full story

BBC News, 2nd May 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Regina (Sino) v Secretary of State for the Home Department – WLR Daily

Regina (Sino) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2016] EWHC 803 (Admin)

‘Claiming that he had been unlawfully detained, the claimant sought, through the route of judicial review, immediate release from detention, determination of the defendant’s liability for his false imprisonment and resolution as to whether, if false imprisonment was established, damages should be compensatory or nominal. The defendant had detained the claimant under immigration powers for periods totalling seven years and two months. The judge held that the claimant had been unlawfully detained between 13 July and 10 December 2013 and was entitled to more than nominal damages for false imprisonment, to be assessed on a compensatory basis. The claimant failed in his public law claim in relation to accommodation, deportation and removal. An issue arose as to costs. The defendant contended, inter alia, that as the claimant had succeeded on only one issue out of four he was entitled to only 25% of his costs.’

WLR Daily, 12th April 2016

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Reforms will leave clients vulnerable to rogue McKenzie friends – APIL – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted April 22nd, 2016 in litigants in person, McKenzie friends, news, remuneration by tracey

‘The judiciary should act now to prepare for thousands of extra litigants in person who may be vulnerable to exploitation by paid McKenzie friends.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 21st April 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bike couriers launch legal fight over workers’ rights – BBC News

Posted April 22nd, 2016 in employment tribunals, holiday pay, news, remuneration, self-employment by tracey

‘Four bicycle couriers are taking their companies to a tribunal in a bid to get employed workers’ rights, including paid holidays and the minimum wage.’

Full story

BBC News, 22nd April 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Junior doctors’ row: Government hit with second legal challenge over contracts – BBC News

‘A second legal challenge has been made over the government’s decision to impose a new contract on junior doctors in England.’

Full story

BBC News, 4th April 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ten new laws that come into force in April 2016 – and how they affect you – The Independent

‘April 2016 is a month of big changes for people living and working in the UK. A number of new laws and policies are coming into force, affecting just about everyone from public sector workers to dog owners. Here’s what the new laws could mean for you.’

Full story

The Independent, 3rd April 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Senior judges are hanging up their wigs. Replacing them won’t be cheap – The Guardian

‘The only branch of governance in which the public still has some faith is the judiciary – and it is facing a serious recruitment crisis.’

Full story

The Guardian, 4th April 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Apollo Fuels Ltd and others – WLR Daily

Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Apollo Fuels Ltd and others; [2016] EWCA Civ 157

‘The employers leased cars to their employees to enable them to carry out their duties. The cars were leased on arm’s length commercial terms, including lease charges at full market value. The revenue concluded that the provision of the cars was a taxable benefit, for the purposes of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003, and served notices of assessment for that tax on the employees. The First-tier Tribunal allowed the employees’ appeal, holding that the provision of the cars was a “benefit” which fell within section 114 of the 2003 Act with the result that Chapter 6 of Part 3 of the 2003 Act applied. That decision was affirmed by the Upper Tribunal.’

WLR Daily, 17th March 2016

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Judges feel undervalued, says retired court of appeal member – The Guardian

Posted March 16th, 2016 in judges, judiciary, news, remuneration by sally

‘Judges feel unappreciated, demoralised and resent cuts to their pay, according to a recently retired member of the court of appeal.’

Full story

The Guardian, 14th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government ad ‘ridiculed’ for claiming teachers can earn £65,000 is cleared – The Guardian

Posted March 9th, 2016 in advertising, complaints, news, remuneration, teachers by tracey

‘A government TV ad that said that “great” teachers can make up to £65,000 per year has been cleared, despite 140 complaints that it misrepresented potential salaries.’

Full story

The Guardian, 9th March 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Junior doctors launch legal challenge to Jeremy Hunt’s decision to impose new contract – The Independent

‘Junior doctors have a launched a legal challenge to Jeremy Hunt’s decision to impose a new contract, and announced that three fresh strikes will hit the NHS in the spring.’

Full story

The Independent, 23rd February 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Henia v Beck: Time for a Rethink? – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted February 23rd, 2016 in construction industry, consultations, news, notification, remuneration by sally

‘Google the decision in Henia Investments Inc v Beck Interiors Ltd and you will find a raft of articles championing the decision as adding yet further weight to the argument that payment applications submitted by the “payee” must be clear and unambiguous.’

Full story

Hardwicke Chambers, 3rd February 2016

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Caledonian Modular Ltd v Mar City Developments Ltd [2015] EWHC 1855 (TCC) – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted February 23rd, 2016 in construction industry, contracts, news, notification, remuneration by sally

‘The TCC determined that an ambiguous set of accounts sent by email were not a valid application for interim payment, with the result that the corresponding payless notice had been issued in time. The case serves as a reminder to contractors that the substantial benefits of the HGCRA payment provisions come with the clear obligation to make the nature and content of any application for interim payment obvious to an employer, or else the courts will likely find such an application to be invalid.’

Full story

Hardwicke Chambers, 3rd February 2016

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Leeds City Council v Waco UK Ltd [2015] EWHC 1400 (TCC) – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted February 23rd, 2016 in construction industry, estoppel, local government, news, remuneration, time limits by sally

‘The TCC had to determine whether an interim payment application made 6 days before the specified contractual date was rendered invalid for being too early. The key issue was whether it was possible that consistent failures to adhere to the contractual payment provisions would create an estoppel which would prevent an out of time payment application from being found invalid. Although Edwards-Stuart J found that it was arguable there was an estoppel for applications made a few days after the contractual date, there was no such estoppel for applications made early and so the application was found to be invalid.’

Full story

Hardwicke Chambers, 3rd February 2016

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk