After its announcement that it has taken “the difficult decision” to “enter administration”, Wilko’s 12,500 employees are now faced with possible redundancy if the administrators are unable to find a buyer for the high street retailer. In his discussion with Kirsten O’Brian on BBC Radio Berkshire, Managing Partner, David Harris explains the way forward for […]
New ACAS guidance on employee suspensions
The Advisory, Conciliation, and Arbitration Service (ACAS) recently published new advice on how to handle employee suspensions. Suspending an employee might be necessary during a disciplinary or grievance investigation, or for the purposes of safeguarding the health and safety of the individual concerned. Since this is a relatively common practice, most properly drafted employment contracts […]
What employers need to know about industrial action
National Rail and London Underground employees recently participated in the largest strikes since 1989. Their reasons for taking part in industrial action are related to pay, working conditions and intended job cuts. It appears that strike action is also becoming increasingly common in the private sector as we are receiving calls for advice from companies […]
David P Harris discusses the latest updates from Rishi Sunak with Andrew Peach on BBC Radio Berkshire
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment […]
David Harris speaks on BBC Radio about the Government’s attempts to discourage home working
Listen to David Harris speaking to Bill Buckley on BBC Radio Berkshire about the Government’s recent announcement that civil servants must return to working in the office to “ensure that buildings are running at full capacity”. During the conversation, David discusses the legal rights that employees have to request flexible working arrangements. He also points […]
When does workplace banter become harassment?
Discrimination legislation in the UK protects employees from “banter” which has the effect of violating their dignity or creating an intimidating, humiliating, hostile, degrading or offensive environment. Such conduct can amount to harassment if it is related to one of the protected characteristics listed below: – Age Disability Gender reassignment Marriage and civil partnership Pregnancy […]
Fire and rehire practices under further Government scrutiny
The practice commonly known as “fire and rehire”, involving the dismissal and re-engagement of employees on new terms has come under further adverse scrutiny. A Private Member’s Bill, seeking to discourage such practices, attracted attention in the media and ACAS published guidance for employers, at the request of the Government. What is the new UK […]
Working with Long COVID
It is nearly two years since the first COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom and for many people, working with Long COVID has become an unfortunate daily reality. What is Long COVID? Long COVID is the name given to a condition in which the effects of COVID-19 continue for a prolonged period. It can affect […]
When are post-termination restriction clauses unreasonable?
Post-termination restriction clauses can be controversial as there are often doubts as to their enforceability. There is currently a public consultation on proposals to reform post-termination non-competition clauses, which might prevent them from being enforced to any degree in the future. We eagerly await the Government’s response to this consultation. At present, post-termination restrictions are […]
How should employers deal with accusations of workplace bullying?
Allegations of workplace bullying are sadly all too common. Employers have a duty to take reasonable care of the health and safety of their staff and this includes those facing such allegations of bullying. These duties arise under common law, and health and safety legislation and are also an implied term of the employment contract. […]
What you need to know about protected conversations
What is a protected conversation? The Employment Rights Act 1996 provides legal protection which allows an employer, in certain circumstances, to approach employees to have a conversation regarding how their exit from the business might be managed. An employer may choose to take this approach to avoid going through a formal disciplinary or performance management […]
David Harris discusses the Government’s ‘work from home’ announcement on BBC Radio Berkshire with Phil Kennedy
Managing Partner David Harris discusses the Government’s recent ‘work from home’ announcement on the BBC Berkshire Drive Time show yesterday evening. Listen to the interview here: David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment law matters. He is a frequent […]
Dealing with sexual harassment in the workplace
The UK Government has issued a response to the consultation on sexual harassment in the workplace, stating that as soon as Parliamentary time allows, it intends to introduce: a specific duty requiring employers to prevent sexual harassment, in order to encourage employers to take positive proactive steps to make the workplace safer for everyone; explicit […]
David Harris speaks on BBC Radio about employee rights during the petrol crisis
Managing Partner, David Harris, speaks to Andrew Peach on BBC Radio Berkshire about the rights of employees who are unable to perform their roles because of the current petrol crisis. David confirms that in most cases, it is the responsibility of employees to get to work by whatever means possible, but there are some exceptions. […]
David Harris discusses Flexible Working with Phil Kennedy on BBC Radio
For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form. You can arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment law matters. He is […]
What does UK Employment Law say about employee holidays?
Holiday entitlement seems straightforward, but small business owners can find themselves in hot water when it comes to the rights of employees to take time off for holidays. The Working Time Regulations give all workers the right to paid holidays, irrespective of the hours they work. However, the definition of ‘worker’ in the UK is […]
Mental Health at Work – What Employers need to know
Attitudes towards mental health are changing and employers need to be aware of the importance of taking the mental health concerns of their employees seriously. Annual statistics from the Health and Safety Executive show that between 2019 and 2020, an estimated 17.9 million working days were lost because of absences due to work-related stress, anxiety, […]
Right-to-work checks in the UK return to pre-pandemic rules
The temporary adjustments to right-to-work checks due to COVID-19 are ending. When will the original right-to-work checks be reinstated in the UK? From 1 September 2021, employers must either check the original documents of applicants or check online if applicants have been given the ‘share code’ that gives them the right to work. Why were […]
Mark Laffery speaks on BBC Radio about the rights of employees to continue working from home
Listen to the interview here: If you would like to find out more about this, call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete the Contact Form on our website to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. You can read Mark’s bio by clicking on Our Team Mark LaffertyMark Lafferty […]
David Harris speaks on the Breakfast Show about vaccine passports
You can listen to the interview here: For further information, you can call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising […]
Implementing a work from home policy for employees
It is likely that the Covid-19 pandemic will permanently alter the way we do business, with many companies opting to implement a work from home policy that will continue beyond the pandemic.
“No Jab no Job” Listen to David P Harris speaking about this on BBC Radio Berkshire
Listen to the interview here: If you need more information about this, call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete the Contact Form on our website to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience […]
David P Harris discusses the rights of UK employees to work from home on BBC Radio Berkshire with Phil Kennedy
Listen to the interview here: If you are an employee needing legal advice about your right to work from home during the lockdown, call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised […]
UK Government considers reforms that could affect non-compete clauses in employment contracts
At the end of 2020, the UK Government launched a consultation aimed at reforming non-compete clauses that place restrictions on ex-employees after the termination of their employment contracts. The consultation (which is due to close in February 2021) is driven by the need to “unleash innovation, create the conditions for new jobs and increase competition,” […]
David P Harris speaks to Phil Kennedy on BBC Berkshire about the rights of working parents facing redundancy
David Harris speaks to Phil Kennedy on BBC Radio Berkshire about redundancy rights during the pandemic and the impact, in particular, on working parents. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment law matters. He is a frequent contributor to […]
Can employers dismiss employees who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine?
The COVID-19 vaccine will soon be available to the entire UK population but not everyone wants to be vaccinated. Employers should consider very carefully how they will approach a vaccination policy for their employees. The COVID-19 vaccination programme in the UK is now well underway. With the vaccine being offered first to the most vulnerable […]
David P Harris speaks to Phil Kennedy on BBC Berkshire about the potential impact of the recently announced national lockdown
David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment law matters. He is a frequent contributor to BBC Radio Berkshire and People Management Magazine. David has represented individual and corporate clients in the employment tribunal as well as the High Court […]
Could employers dismiss employees fairly based on reputational risk?
Earlier this month, in K v L, the Employment Appeal Tribunal found that a school was not entitled to dismiss K, a teacher of 20 years, on grounds of reputation risk after K was charged but not prosecuted for possessing indecent images of children. The Employment Appeal Tribunal’s view that it would not have been […]
New Tribunal Procedure Rules
A new statutory instrument was brought before parliament on 17 September 2020 to amend the tribunal procedural rules. The rules were changed to make the following allowances: More flexibility to be permitted over virtual hearings due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As Covid-19 has created a significant backlog of problems in the Employment Tribunal, if certain […]
Disability Discrimination Update
The EAT in Sullivan v Bury Street Capital Ltd UKEAT/0317/19/BA recently held that an employee who suffered from paranoid delusions was not disabled because although these had a substantial adverse effect, they were not long-term or likely to recur. The Employment Tribunal rejected the Claimant’s evidence and found that his condition did not have a […]
David P Harris discusses the latest updates from Rishi Sunak with Andrew Peach on BBC Radio Berkshire
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment […]
David P Harris discusses the latest update from Rishi Sunak on BBC Radio Berkshire with Phil Kennedy
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment […]
Calculation of CJRS grants: disclosure of mistakes to HMRC
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme comes to an end at the end of October. Whilst the scheme has been widely welcomed by employers, it is not without its complexities, not least as guidance on the application of the scheme and the calculation of grants has been updated on a frequent basis. Given the changes in […]
David P Harris discusses the latest expansion to the Job Support Scheme on BBC Radio Berkshire with Phil Kennedy
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment […]
David P Harris discusses the latest Government updates on BBC Radio Berkshire with Bill Buckley
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment […]
Test and trace scheme: considerations for employers
The NHS Test and Trace service are intended to form a central part of the government’s coronavirus recovery strategy, with those who have tested positive for COVID-19 asked to register via the NHS Test and Trace website and identify any individuals that they have recently been in close contact with. The intention is that contact […]
Coronavirus: managing return to work for shielding UK employees
Now that shielding has come to an end in the UK, employees who were previously in this position are reporting feelings of anxiety. At the same time, as the seasons change and schools return across the UK, there is a sense that businesses will also be starting to return to ‘normal’ with more employers taking […]
David P Harris discusses the announcement of the ‘Jobs Support Scheme’ on BBC Radio Berkshire
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment […]
David P Harris discusses the changes to the furlough scheme from the 1 September on BBC Radio Berkshire
For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment law matters. He is a […]
The right to refuse work?
Some of the most common queries received in recent weeks have related to whether employers are able to force employees to return to work and, conversely, whether employees can refuse to return to work. Prior to the current pandemic queries of this nature were virtually unheard of; in the majority of cases, an employer is […]
David P Harris discusses the changes to the Furlough scheme from 1 August on BBC Radio Berkshire
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment […]
David P Harris discusses employees rights on quarantine on BBC Radio Berkshire
Listen to the interview here: For further information call us on 0118 914 5622 or complete our Contact Us Form to arrange a confidential call back from a qualified solicitor without charge. David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment […]
Coronavirus: managing the return to work in the UK
As the UK government begin to lift lockdown restrictions, employers in the UK should begin planning for staff to be able to return to their places of work. Many UK businesses have had to take steps to either limit or entirely reduce the number of employees on their premises during the lockdown period through a […]
David P Harris discusses Redundancy rights for employees on BBC Radio Berkshire
David Harris, the Managing Partner at DPH Legal, was interviewed on Thursday 2 July on BBC Radio Berkshire. As the furlough scheme is gradually coming to an end a lot of businesses are faced with difficult decisions if they can’t afford to keep their current workforce. Some employees will find they are at risk of […]
Criminal investigations. The risk for UK employers furloughing staff
UK employers who are furloughing staff as a result of the coronavirus pandemic could face a criminal investigation from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if complicit managers are dishonestly facilitating claims under the coronavirus job retention scheme whilst simultaneously requiring employees to work. Under the current criteria for the coronavirus job retention scheme, employers may […]
Holiday during furlough
Employees on furlough leave continue to accrue statutory holidays and any additional holiday entitlement under their contract of employment. Furloughed employees may take holiday without it disrupting their furlough leave. An employer may, subject to the usual notice requirements, require employees to take holiday whether or not the employee is on furlough leave. However, before […]
David P Harris discusses the updated Flexible Furlough Scheme on BBC Radio Berkshire
David Harris, the Managing Partner at DPH Legal, was interviewed on Wednesday 1 July on BBC Radio Berkshire. The government have announced a change to the current Furlough scheme, making it more flexible to assist companies in bringing back employees over the next three months. These changes include: Employers can bring back workers on a […]
David P Harris discusses the latest changes to the Furlough Scheme on BBC Radio Berkshire
David Harris, the Managing Partner at DPH Legal, was interviewed on Friday 29 May on BBC Radio Berkshire to discuss the changes to the Furlough Scheme which will be implemented in the next few months. These changes include: Employers will be able to bring back furloughed staff part-time from 1 July Employers will have to […]
David P Harris discusses the latest changes from the Government on BBC Radio Berkshire
After Boris Johnson’s speech on Sunday, DPH Legal has been working hard to decipher what this means for the UK workforce. David Harris, the Managing Partner, was interviewed on BBC Radio Berkshire to discuss these changes. Listen to the interview here: If you have any questions or need any legal advice give us a […]
Mark Lafferty discusses the changes to workplaces post lock down
Interviewed on BBC Radio Berkshire, Mark Lafferty, Associate at DPH Legal, looks at the changes to working life as discussions on relaxing lockdown have begun. Listen to the interview here: David Philip HarrisDavid Philip Harris is a recognised employment solicitor with over 10 years of experience in advising employees and employers on employment law […]