Can businesses use covid related absences as triggers for absence management? Will this help to create a sustainable workforce?

During the pandemic, many employers have found difficulty in monitoring absence and taking formal action where employees are absent for significant periods of time. There are growing concerns regarding the severity and longevity of the effects of the virus; thus, many employers feel unable to enforce a strict absence management process and warnings as they previously may have done.

Environmental Litigation - A Sea Change?

It is nigh on impossible to visit the website of any reasonable-sized construction company nowadays without seeing words like "sustainability", "ESG", and "social footprint". Historically used as mere buzz words to drive online traffic, environmental issues are increasingly forming the core of responsible investment strategies.

Going after developers for the cladding crisis - is this enough?

Michael Gove has written a letter to the residential property developer industry requiring developers to agree a plan of action by early March including remediating unsafe cladding on 11-18 metre buildings, currently estimated to be £4 billion. Developers are warned that they must pay to fix the cladding crisis.

Construction disputes on the rise post-pandemic

As more and more disputes arise it is important to consider alternatives to the traditional method of dispute resolution, not only for economical reasons but also for quicker swifter solutions which in some instances are far beyond the scope of what the Court may be able to order.

Environment Bill

On 9 November 2021, the Environmental Bill 2021-22 received Royal Assent, which became the Environment Act 2021. The bill passed three years after its first proposal to deliver and administer environmental considerations in the wake of Brexit. The aim of the bill is to create a stricter legal framework, which will help the UK reach their goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Part 7 of the act introduces the concept of conservation covenants. While the principle of covenants with a "green" purpose behind them are not a new concept, this new regime has key elements that stand it apart from earlier land law principles.

Considerations for growing your business and choosing the best option for you

When growing a business there are a number of routes to consider. Whether it be organic growth over time or expanding quickly through mergers and acquisitions (M&A), it is important you carefully consider the options and ensure you have taken the necessary specialist advice.