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Wetherby 01937 583210
Malton 01653 692247
Legal updates

27 May 2017 Employment advice

The issue of privacy has rarely been out of the news in the last few years, as a result of the phone-hacking scandal and revelations of secret mass surveillance of individuals by national intelligence agencies. As an employer, keeping an eye on your staff is vital but you must also stay on the right side of the law.  Gillian Reid, Head of Employment at Ware & Kay in York, Wetherby & Malton , advises how employers can monitor staff without infringing their rights to privacy. Examples of covert surveillance There are many reasons why you may wish to monitor staff, such as to prevent theft or fraud, reduce the use of workplace equipment and time for personal purposes, cut down on non-genuine absence, monitor the quality of customer service and gather evidence for possible disciplinary…

22 April 2017 Wills and estates

LATEST NEWS: Death taxes are rules unlawful Click on the following link to view the article: Death taxes are ruled unlawful By Frances Gibb, Legal Editor, The Times A decision has been made by the Government to change the probate applications fee structure commencing in May 2017. The purpose of the fee increase is to raise funds of approximately £300m which will be invested directly into Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) to streamline its efficiently, and ultimately, deliver a better service to the public and professionals. However this is not necessarily for the Probate Registry which is largely self funding from the fees it receives. Currently probate court fees are as follow: £155 (application through a solicitor) or £215 (personal application)   In comparison, the proposed new fees are eye-watering…
11 April 2017 Employment advice

One in four people will experience symptoms of mental ill health during their lives.  According to the Chief Medical Officer for England, 70 million working days are lost in the UK every year due to stress, depression and other mental health conditions.  It is estimated that this costs the UK economy between £30 billion to £100 billion per year. Gillian Reid, Head of Employment at Ware & Kay in York, Wetherby & Malton , looks at what managers can do to help employees and advises how to avoid discrimination claims from employees with mental health issues. What is mental health? Mental health is the mental and emotional state in which we feel able to cope with the normal stresses of everyday life.  Mental ill health can range from feeling 'a bit down' to severe mental…
15 March 2017 Employment advice

Employment law is a fast-changing area and as an employer you need to stay up to date with developments to ensure that you are acting lawfully.  Most employment law changes take place in April and October each year.  Gillian Reid, Head of Employment at Ware & Kay Solicitors in York, Wetherby & Malton , looks at what is happening in April 2017 and what you need to do. National minimum wage and national living wage aligned The review date for the national minimum wage has moved to 1 April 2017 instead of 1 October 2017. This means that the next round of changes to the national minimum wage and national living wage will take effect on 1 April 2017: From this date: the national living wage for workers aged 25 and over will increase…
11 March 2017 Employment advice

Conduct is a potentially fair reason for dismissal so, if an employer has accused you of misconduct, you should get independent legal advice to ensure your employment rights are protected.  Gillian Reid, Head of Employment at Ware & Kay in York, Wetherby & Malton , looks at what you need to do if you are facing disciplinary proceedings for misconduct. Misconduct is unacceptable or improper behaviour.  Cases of minor misconduct, such as lateness, are usually dealt with informally.  If informal resolution fails or the matter is more serious, your employer will normally take formal action.  Gross misconduct is the most serious type of conduct and includes theft, fraud, fighting, drunkenness, harassment, serious negligence and serious breach of health and safety rules.  It can result in the termination of your employment without notice or pay in…
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