A Game Of Endurance As Disposable Incomes Hit Six Year Low

The average household in Britain is currently enduring the lengthiest dip in disposable income for six years. Cash-strapped consumers are struggling with the combination of lacklustre growth in their wages, which is providing modest support to disposable incomes, and inflation, which is taking its toll on the pound in their pocket as the cost of everyday items increase. Recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed real household disposable income fell by 1.1% per head in the second quarter of 2017, meaning disposable incomes have declined for four consecutive quarters, marking the longest period of negative growth since the tail end of 2011. The data from the ONS coincides with a study1 disclosing that for the first time in two years, households said they thought their personal financial situation had deteriorated. This perception will…

Autumn Employment Law Round Up

Gillian Reid, employment law specialist at Ware & Kay in York, Wetherby & Malton, provides a round-up of the main employment law changes that have recently come into effect, including those taking place from autumn 2017, and explains the action you need to take as a result. Employment tribunal fees scrapped Unison won a landmark court case against the government in July 2017 when the Supreme Court found that the government acted unlawfully when it introduced employment tribunal fees in July 2013. The decision of the court means that, from July 2017: those eligible to bring an employment tribunal claim (or appeal) will no longer have to pay a fee to do so; and the government will have to refund over £27 million to those charged a fee for submitting a claim to the…

A Change To The Compensation Band For The 'injury To Feelings' Award

There will be a change to the compensation bands for the 'injury to feelings' award in discrimination cases in the employment tribunal and will apply to any claims issued on or after 11 September 2017 and will be: lower band (less serious cases): £800 to £8,400 middle band: £8,400 to £25,200 upper band (the most serious cases): £25,200 to £42,000 exceptional cases: over £42,000   The previous bands were: Lower band: £600 to £6,000 Middle band: £6,000 to £18,000 Higher band: £18,000 to £30,000.   Published: September 2017 For more information contact Gillian Reid, Head of Employment, on 01904 716050 or email Gillian.Reid@warekay.co.uk.

New Rules On Debt Recovery May Delay Payment Of Consumer Debts

New rules on the procedure businesses must follow when trying to collect debts from individual customers could mean that you have to wait 90 days or more before you can issue court proceedings.  To limit the damage this may cause to your cash flow it is important to review your credit control procedures now before the new rules come into force on 1 October 2017. Are all business debts affected? Only debts owed to you by individuals are covered by the new rules; however, sole traders are included within the definition of an individual so they are also relevant for some business debts. What do the rules require? The rules - set out in the pre-action protocol for debt claims issued under the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 - require you to engage with individual debtors…