While the predicted lockdown baby boom has not materialised and the birth rate is similar to 2020 (down just 0.5%), family caring responsibilities have been

Lockdown easing has begun this month at last and UK holidays are back on.  Whilst this is music to our ears, the big question on

The statutory definitions of the three categories of employment status have long been criticised as being unclear, and over the years a body of case

We’re continuing our theme of top 10s to celebrate our 10 years in business.  This time we’ve come up with a top 10 of notable

After postponements in 2019 and 2020, the 6 April 2021 is the third date scheduled for the off-payroll working rules to be extended to the

The rollout of the vaccination programme has been welcomed as the beginning of the end for the Covid-19 pandemic. For many employers, ensuring their workforce

Qualifying as a solicitor is a special moment. It takes years of studying and training and qualification brings an immense feeling of satisfaction and great

A new year is upon us and with all the uncertainty going on around us at the moment, it seems like the perfect opportunity to

Here at SCE Solicitors, in 2021 we are celebrating 10 successful years since our specialist HR & Employment Law firm was founded in 2011. Demand

2020 was a tumultuous year with employers having to respond rapidly to the challenges of the pandemic and it doesn’t look like it is easing

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

2020 has been a challenging year for most businesses. We have had to adapt quite quickly to new ways of working and many businesses have

The viability of many businesses is on a knife edge and flexibility in scaling the workforce up or down at short notice has become increasingly

Last year we held the official opening of our well-being room. We planned the room in great detail involving all of the staff in its

Debates over flexible working have been everywhere recently. When the coronavirus pandemic first arrived on our shores in the spring, the government’s announcement that we

As the Chancellor’s coronavirus job retention scheme enters its final phase and the prospect of a return to normal business seems distant for many companies,

SCE carry the burden for Leeds Mind

As we are all struggling with a new ‘normal’, the guidance we are provided with can be somewhat confusing at times. So what exactly are

In the wake of recent events, there is increased momentum in addressing racial inequalities at work. Whilst this is extremely important, businesses must not forget

A DSAR is a right that individuals have under the Data Protection Act 2018 to request a copy of the data that an organisation holds about them.

Following changes in government guidance, more and more employers are asking staff to come back to the workplace. But what are your obligations as an

Guest Blog – Kate Dean/Samira Cakali As the world starts to right itself and the economy starts to meet again, many businesses are in the difficult place of looking at restructures and redundancies. While

1. Settlement agreements are legally binding. They came into effect in 2013 and are contracts that are used to end an employment relationship between the employer

Homeworking has advantages; it eases the immediate difficulties of making workplaces Covid-secure and, longer term, it can significantly reduce the overheads for a business. Employers bringing staff back to the workplace may wish to take stock of recent homeworking arrangements in preparation for any second spike in coronavirus or a localised lockdown.

One of the most interesting things about employee engagement is that, when things are going well, you can easily not notice it. When an organisation

An employee with two years’ service can bring a claim for unfair dismissal. Where an employee with a protected characteristic argues that their redundancy was

As many of you know, SCE Solicitors have chosen Leeds Mind to support and raise money for. Leeds Mind aims to help people build on

The Government’s coronavirus job retention scheme (CJRS) has helped many employers keep their staff. But, the winding down of the CJRS and the grim economic

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies have transitioned to a remote workforce. That means companies moving forward with hiring plans will most likely

As many businesses are starting to reopen their doors the Government has made its coronavirus job retention scheme more flexible from July and employers are

As mental health awareness week draws to an end for another year, I thought I would put thoughts to paper in respect of something, I

As businesses look at re-opening after lockdown and returning to some form of “new normal” we thought it would be a good idea to provide

As the lockdown continues, the Government has extended access to its coronavirus job retention scheme and employers are settling in to a new way of

Harvinder joined SCE Solicitors in April 2020 as an Associate Solicitor. She kindly took some time out of her busy schedule to talk to us

What is Ramadan? The month of Ramadan is the holiest month of the Islamic year. It is when the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet

Since the coronavirus outbreak in the UK, the Government has responded with a raft of new measures to help employees and employers. Although the circumstances

Key Workers/Essential Workers and Self Employment Support SCE provide you with all the latest information on these Covid-19 topics.

National Minimum Wage Age Former Rate (£) Current Rate (£) Workers aged 25 and over (National Living Wage) 8.21 8.72 Workers aged 21 – 24

A furlough is “a temporary layoff from work.” People who get furloughed usually get to return to their job after a furlough. Who is eligible? All UK businesses regardless

This update is based on our knowledge at the time of writing (23 March 2020).  Our phones are ringing with various questions on Coronavirus.  We’ve

April brings with it the usual annual increases to the national minimum wage and statutory pay for family-friendly leave and sickness absence. But the effects

Information about the Virus A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include

Information about the Virus A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include

Many of you will be aware that 1 in 4 of us are likely to suffer from some form of poor mental health therefore it

When a key employee is about to leave, employers look to minimise damage to their business and may wish to keep the employee away from

With Christmas being a distant memory, everyone will be feeling well rested and are likely to be raring to go, particularly as it’s the start

SCE Solicitors chose to collaborate with Leeds Mind in October 2019 and have so far raised nearly £500. We are making 2020 our year to

Changing an individual’s working arrangements from employee to consultant may seem attractive; no employer National Insurance contributions to pay and greater flexibility for the individual.

Tempting though it might be to dish out the same contract of employment for new starters year after year, putting a little time into preparing

Work related stress translating to long term absence is growing and the impact to business’ is significant. So, when it comes to dismissing an employee due

We opened our well-being room on the 10th October 2019 and invited Shot Blast Media to create our video. We would like to share with

Much can be gained in having a relaxed work place environment where employees can talk and express opinions freely to each other however with workplace

In this article we explore how menopause affects women in the workplace and what you can do to help shake the stigma. What Is The

Instead of moving around the workplace we now seem to be tied to a desk or staring at a computer screen, and it’s having an

It is beneficial to have a Mental Health First Aider to help those affected by poor mental health. Mental health issues are as much of a

This year on Mental Health Awareness Day (10 October19), we marked the occasion by launching our new Wellbeing Room. The purpose of this room is

In this article, we will look at what amounts to stress at work, how stress shows in an employee, why employers should take steps to

The talk of a 4 day working week has been on the cards for many years. With work life balance being top of the agenda

If you are an employee you may or may not be aware of a common clause within employment contracts titled ‘Restrictive Covenants.’ Many employees sign

SCE Solicitors are proud to announce our new collaboration with Leeds Mind. This is an exciting time for us, and we would like to get

Statutory sick pay (‘SSP’) is a universal payment all employers must pay, should their employees be signed off from work due to sickness. Some companies offer

What Is A Fit Note? A fit note is a statement of fitness for work. It is given by a GP or hospital doctor stating that the

Shareholder disputes can be extremely disruptive to the running of the business. A shareholder is vital for the making of important decisions, in the event

Settlement Agreement Settlement agreements are legally binding contracts that are used to end an employment relationship between the employer and employee. They came into effect in

If an employer is unsuccessful at an employment tribunal, the amount they must pay-out can be very large and have a significant impact on the business. The

Are you in a situation where you have been in breach of a contract or have you been a victim of someone else breaching a

Disputes relating to right of way are extremely common, much more common than you may believe. How difficult is it to manage a private right

Gardening leave does not come without costs and risks. In this article Emma Roberts examines the pros and cons you may wish to weigh up

Dealing with difficult tenants can be a task for landlords. So what are the main difficulties landlords face when dealing with tenant’s and what can

SCE Solicitors were proud sponsors of the Horsforth Walk of Art last weekend.

Often employers do not know what their legal obligations are in relation to employees breastfeeding at work. In this article Emma Roberts explores the law,

Having nuisance neighbours can be very frustrating especially when you are looking forward to some peace and quiet after a long day at work. So,

While employers might be confident in their knowledge of common ‘visible’ disabilities, so-called ‘invisible’ disabilities pose a greater challenge. In this article I explain how

The Court of Appeal has confirmed that it is not discriminatory to pay men on shared parental leave less than an enhanced rate of maternity

If you think debt problems cannot be solved then you need to think again. However, if you delay handling your debts the problem can become

As the school holidays approach, working parents cross their fingers that their childcare plans hold. In this article I look at what employers need to

Samira Cakali is pleased to announce that she has recently been named as a UK Top Rated Solicitor. She has received this commendation thanks to

National Minimum Wage (NMW) 1 April 2019 – 31 March 2020   Former Rate (£) Current Rate (£) National Living Wage – Workers aged 25

From new contracts to employees and being distracted by the household chores, Emma Roberts takes a look at what employers need to know when employees

Disagreements over property boundaries between your property and that of a neighbour can often occur. Emma Roberts explains her top tips to help protect your

As its Mental Health Awareness week, Samira Cakali tells us what it’s like to be a mental health first aider. She discusses how the scheme

There is always a possibility that home improvements will go wrong, leaving you worse off than when you started. Samira Cakali explains what recourse you

What do employers need to know about handling complaints regarding sexual harassment? Emma Roberts outlines the appropriate steps to take in response to a complaint

Grievances take a wide variety of forms. Handle it well and you can often avoid issues from escalating, and even increase the faith employees have

National Minimum Wage and Living Wage Rates increase this month. Make sure you’re up-to-date. The new rates from 1st April 2019 are:  £8.21 per hour

When it comes to faulty goods, many consumers are unaware of the protection and statutory rights they are legally entitled to. Shops often exploit their

Holland & Barrett Employee Wins Overtime Case A tribunal has ruled that Holland & Barrett made unlawful deductions from the pay of an employee who

Dealing appropriately with employees on long-term sickness absence from the outset can help achieve an earlier return to work. Where a return is ultimately not

Employee Found Storing ‘Obscene Material’ On Online Work Account Unfairly Dismissed A Royal Mail employee who was allegedly found storing “obscene material” on his online

Disputes can arise with your neighbours for many reasons, and it’s often hard to know what to do to resolve them. Fortunately, there are a

Bar Manager Choked By Colleague At Christmas Party Wins Tribunal

From shared parental leave to part-time working, in this guide we explore five things all employers need to know about family friendly working.

Trading Standards has to deal with more complaints about used cars than any other product. But what are your rights when it comes to buying

Employees on maternity leave have special legal rights and protections and so before making such employees redundant you must tread very carefully and be aware

You are a tenant, or a landlord, and you realise that you can make more money out of subletting or renting out your property on

An employee who was referred to by a colleague as a “baby farmer” after she returned from maternity leave was unfairly dismissed, a tribunal has

You may be asked at some point in your life to attend court to give evidence in respect of any kind of matter. Although you

Prison Officer Was Unfairly Dismissed After Revealing Sexuality Forty-year-old Ben Plaistow was the victim of direct discrimination contrary to provisions of the Equality Act 2010,

Allow the employee every opportunity to explain their underperformance. Establish whether there are any underlying reasons for the poor performance, such as disability, health, or

If you do not have a clear social media policy in place, you need to remember that an employee cannot be dismissed or even disciplined