Archived News from 2021

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Employment & HR

November

Legal Article

Mandatory vaccination comes into force for care home staff - but what happens next?

23/11/21

On 11th November 2021, the amendment made to The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, to mandate vaccines for care home staff, came into force. The new legislation, which was passed by the government in July 2021, has given care home staff adequate time to comply and…

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October

Forbes News

Government starts consultation on flexible working

19/10/21

An improved approach to flexible working is a key part of the Government's aim to 'build back better' from the pandemic, and as such a consultation has been launched which sets out a number of proposals in respect of flexible working, in all its forms. These are built around the principle…

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September

Legal Article

30 or under? Icelandic and Indian nationals added to the Youth Mobility Scheme

28/09/21

The new 'statement of changes' published by the Home Office on 10 September 2021 contains several modifications including rebranding the T5 (Temporary Worker) Youth Mobility Scheme to the simplified Youth Mobility Scheme. The most significant change regarding the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) is…

Legal Article

Compulsory vaccinations - can workers be forced to be vaccinated?

15/09/21

No legal requirement currently exists for workers to be vaccinated, with the exemption of care workers. Many businesses, however, are considering introducing vaccination requirements, despite the fact that, in the absence of any legislation making vaccinations compulsory, any such policies could well be…

Forbes News

Further Extension of Right to Work Check Concessions to 5 April 2022

03/09/21

In March 2020 when the pandemic first took hold, the Home Office introduced temporary measures which allowed employers to conduct right to work checks remotely during lockdown when employers could not meet new employees face-to-face. Since then, the measures have been extended several times but…

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July

Legal Article

Mandatory COVID Vaccination for Care Homes

30/07/21

The Government has now passed legislation mandatory for care home staff, volunteers and certain other groups entering the care home (subject to certain exemptions). These provisions have now come into force meaning there will be a 16-week grace period from when the regulations are made to when they…

Legal Article

Lockdown Liberty: How is 'Freedom Day' set to impact the Employment sector?

15/07/21

It has been confirmed this week that England will move to the final stage of easing of Covid restrictions meaning that almost all legal restrictions on social contact are set to end on Monday 19th July. But what does this mean from an employment and health and safety perspective? The guidance to…

Legal Article

Impact of social media backlash for employers

13/07/21

On going to bed disappointed on Sunday night, many no doubt expected they would be getting up on Monday morning to an influx of press articles and social media posts centred around a technical critique of the football skills on display in the final along side messages of support for the players. Few…

Legal Article

Mandatory COVID Vaccination for Care Workers

07/07/21

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published its response to the consultation on mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for care home workers. It confirms that vaccination will become mandatory for care home staff, volunteers and anyone else entering the care home for work purposes (subject to…

Legal Article

EU Settlement Scheme deadline: Right to Work Checks from 1 July 2021

07/07/21

The Home Office has published their updated guidance on carrying out right to work checks in light of the deadline to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) and the significant changes that accompany this. The guidance is titled ' Employer right to work checks supporting guidance ' and…

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June

Legal Article

New Graduate route now open to international students

02/06/21

The new, long-awaited, Graduate route?is now open under the UK's points-based immigration system. It is for international students, including EEA students without settled or pre-settled status, who want to work in the UK following the successful completion of a degree at undergraduate level or above…

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May

Legal Article

Adjusted Right to Work Checks to end on 20 June 2021

13/05/21

The Home Office has announced that from 21 June 2021, the concession on Right to Work (RTW) checks, permitting employers to conduct RTW checks via video, will end. The amended checks were due to end on 17 May 2021, however the Home Office confirmed shortly beforehand, on 12 May 2021, that their…

Legal Article

Health & Safety - 'protection from detriment' extended to workers

07/05/21

Currently, under s44 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, an employee can bring a tribunal claim if they have been subjected to a detriment because they reasonably believed that being at work would place them (or someone else) in serious, imminent danger. Employees also enjoy protection from unfair…

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March

Forbes News

Asda and retail industry reeling from latest blow from the Supreme Court

26/03/21

The Supreme Court has today delivered its latest blow to Asda in the ongoing equal pay claim finding in favour of employees working in its retail stores against the retail giant in the latest interim stage appealed to the Supreme Court. Whilst it is important to note that this isn't the final…

Forbes News

Key takeaways from The Budget for the Employment Sector

03/03/21

After a week of rumours and alleged leaks regarding The Budget, we can now confirm what has been announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Budget Day (Wednesday 3 March 2021). Below are some of the key takeaways from The Budget for the Employment Sector: · As expected, the Furlough…

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February

Legal Article

Public Sector Exit Payments Scrapped

15/02/21

The Treasury has recently announced that long proposed cap on Public Sector Exit Payments (the Cap) which came into force on 4th November 2020 has been withdrawn effective from 12th February 2021 due to "unforeseen circumstances". Therefore any exit payments made after 12th February 2021…

Legal Article

National Apprenticeship Week

10/02/21

National Apprenticeship Week began on 8 February. This year's theme is 'Build The Future.' With 20 years of experience in progressing employees through apprenticeships, Forbes Solicitors has helped build futures and this year has been no different and has been as successful, despite the…

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January

Legal Article

The retail industry and the exit strategy from Covid-19

19/01/21

As we settle in to our third lockdown it might not be easy for businesses to think about the future and plan their "exit strategy". However, could this latest lockdown provide a unique opportunity for businesses to think outside the box, critique the way they operate and how they utilise their…

Legal Article

Acas Early Conciliation - New Rules

19/01/21

A claim to an employment tribunal must usually be made within 3 months less 1 day. This is known as the 'limitation date'. For example, if an employee wants to claim for unfair dismissal, they have 3 months less 1 day from the date their employment ended to make the claim. However this is with…

Legal Article

Employment Law Changes 2021 - Impact on Property & Construction Industries

18/01/21

Under the new lockdown restrictions, the government has urged all employees to work from home unless they cannot "reasonably" do so. The very nature of the construction sector means that this is not possible for construction workers and so despite the tighter restrictions they can thankfully…

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