Working from home: wellbeing and mental health of employees

While some people are enjoying working from home, this is not the case for everyone and the negative impacts over several months are taking a toll on some employees. ‘Employers are unsure of their responsibilities for mental health and how to deal with performance issues when the boundary between home and work has become blurred,’ says Gillian Reid, Head of Employment with Ware & Kay. ‘They want to know how best to support their employees’ wellbeing while keeping the business on track in difficult times. This includes knowing what questions you can ask, how to address mental health issues, and how to be fair in disciplinary procedures.’ Potential problems arising from homeworking Homeworking brings a different set of pressures to those in the workplace; a lack of boundaries between home and work, and difficulties in switching…

Five more potential problems with your title (and how to fix them)

As many buyers look to take advantage of the temporary stamp duty holiday, now could be the right time to sell your home. To ensure any sale progresses smoothly, it is important to make sure the title to your property is in order. Last month, we outlined five potential problems with the title to your property. In the second of this two-part series we look at five more possible title problems, which could disrupt your plans and offers some solutions. Your property is leasehold Unlike a freehold, a lease is a wasting asset. If you have a term with 80 years or fewer left, then you may find it harder to sell because buyers sometimes struggle to find a suitable lender as many require a minimum term. The good news is you may have a legal…

The 5 days of Christmas and childcare arrangements whilst following the latest Government Guidelines

On the 2nd December the Government announced a series of measures across England in line with a new “three-tier” lockdown system, in an attempt to control the coronavirus infection rates.

Don’t be a farming nuisance

A farm is an eternal hive of activity. There is always something going on, work to be done, developments to be made, and improvements to be completed. With such activities, some noise and disruption is inevitable. However, if your actions impact your neighbours to such an extent that it amounts to a nuisance, this could lead to untold legal headaches. Nuisance is unreasonable interference with another person’s use or enjoyment of land. Nuisance can be public, statutory, or private.  Public nuisance Public nuisance can be a criminal offence and arises where a group of people are affected by your actions, for example if you obstruct the highway or pollute water supplies. Statutory nuisance Statutory nuisances are defined by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 as something which is ‘prejudicial to health or a nuisance’. This can include excessive noise…

Do I need to start my divorce prior to Brexit?

If you are contemplating divorce, then you may need to consider whether it would be beneficial to commence proceedings prior to Brexit.  This is particularly important if either you or your spouse are nationals of another EU country, if you last resided in another EU country while married, or if there are marital assets such as property in another EU country. ‘Unhappy couples often try to get through Christmas and put off calling a divorce lawyer until the New Year.’ However, Robert Bellhouse a Family Solicitor in the family law team with Ware & Kay in York & Wetherby says ‘If there is any international aspect to your relationship, it is a good idea to speak to a solicitor as soon as possible to discuss your particular circumstances and the options available to you prior to…

Are you concerned about family members contesting your Will?

We have seen that attempts to contest a Will are on the rise.  In the past, such claims were largely limited to high-value estates but we are now seeing an increase in claims against estates of all sizes. When claims are made, the costs can run into tens of thousands of pounds and they can take many years to settle.  The added stress of dealing with a claim along with the delay in bringing matters to a conclusion can be distressing for your loved ones. Our highly skilled and experienced lawyers can provide you with all the necessary advice and guidance when you make a Will with us.  As part of our Will service, we are happy to prepare comprehensive Statements of Reason as a means of providing the best possible opportunity for claims to be…

Working from home: wellbeing and mental health of employees

While some people are enjoying working from home, this is not the case for everyone and the negative impacts over several months are taking a toll on some employees. ‘Employers are unsure of their responsibilities for mental health and how to deal with performance issues when the boundary between home and work has become blurred,’ says Gillian Reid, Head of Employment with Ware & Kay. ‘They want to know how best to support their employees’ wellbeing while keeping the business on track in difficult times. This includes knowing what questions you can ask, how to address mental health issues, and how to be fair in disciplinary procedures.’ Potential problems arising from homeworking Homeworking brings a different set of pressures to those in the workplace; a lack of boundaries between home and work, and difficulties in switching…

Coronavirus and why you need to check your Will

We have seen that the effects of the coronavirus are extreme and long-lasting.  When thinking of the coronavirus, the last thing that most of us will have on our minds is the impact on our Will. The importance of reviewing your Will at this time should not be underestimated, however. Many business owners and employees have suffered financially this year.  If you have suffered financial loss you may need to rethink the terms of your Will where you have included fixed sum legacies to beneficiaries.  It may be the case that the fixed sums featured in the Will now exceed your net worth.  This could be due to the fall in the value of your share portfolio, losing your job or having a reduced income whilst on furlough.   We can guide you on the ways in…

Our offices will be open for pre-arranged appointments from 2nd December – we are here to help

All our offices will be open for pre-arranged appointments from 2nd December where a telephone meeting is not possible. Contact us as normal by phone or email to arrange a meeting to discuss your matter but please bear in mind that many of our staff continue to work from home so we can only see you if you have pre-arranged an appointment. Our main priority at this time is to maintain a safe environment for our staff and visitors to our offices so we ask that you assist us with this by following the guidelines set out below. Covid-19 Workplace Risk Assessments We have carried out a Health and Safety Risk Assessment at each of our offices to ensure that we have appropriate arrangements in place. These include: Pre-arranged appointments with at least 30 minutes…

Ware & Kay Christmas and New Year opening times

We would like to send you our best wishes for the festive season and a safe and healthy 2021. We look forward to working with you and continuing to deliver the best possible service. Christmas and New Year opening times Our offices will be closed from 4.00 pm on Wednesday 23rd December and will reopen at 9.00 am on Monday 4th January 2021. If you would like to contact us outside of these hours please use our contact form and someone will get back to you on the next business day. Best wishes The Ware & Kay Team