The 'Good Work' Report

The Taylor Review also know as the ‘Good Work’ report was published on 11th July 2017 and is an independent review of modern working practices in the UK. The report was undertaken by Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.

It comes at a time when the ‘gig economy’  is repeatedly in the news and the report attempts to address the challenges faced by the UK labour market and provides significant proposals to amend certain aspects of Employment Law and regulations – for the better, it is hoped.

The report is based on the 'overriding ambition' that work in Britain should be fair, with the Prime Minister commending the review by saying: 'the issues it confronts go right to the heart of the government's agenda and right to the heart of our values as a people'.

Holiday Pay Accrues Indefinitely

Following the case of King v. The Sash Window Workshop Ltd., the ECJ's Advocate General has announced that the right to paid leave accrues throughout an employment relationship if the employer does not provide 'adequate facility' for the employee to take paid leave.

In this case, Mr King was treated as self-employed for 13 years. He was in fact a worker and was therefore entitled to paid annual leave.

Duo Join Employment Team

The Employment Team has expanded following the appointment of Emma Swan and Mohammed Ismail.

Mohammed joins as a Paralegal having previously worked at Simpson Millar.

Emma is a Partner and highly regarded Lawyer. She has a loyal client base of Lancashire businesses which she has built up during her career.

Emma Swan

t:01254 222354

e:emma.swan@forbessolicitors.co.uk

Mohammed Ismail

t:01254 222304

e:mohammed.ismail@forbessolicitors.co.uk

Forbes and Vita Safety Partner to offer Health & Safety Advice

Forbes have recently teamed up with leading Health and Safety consultants Vita Safety to offer a bespoke and discounted service to clients as part of our HR Complete offering.

In light of recent events and changes to sentencing guidelines, UK businesses are seeing a dramatic increase in health and safety fines. According to research, of the 46 prosecutions in 2015/16, 34 directors were found guilty and 12 were given prison sentences, with the longest prison sentence imposed at two years. Vita Safety work to avoid this scenario and the service they offer includes a business legal compliance health check, management report and action plan, along with a range of other sector specific services and the new IOSH Leading Safely training for directors and business leaders.

HR Complete is already a flexible offering, tailored to clients’ needs. The addition of Health and Safety increases and improves the options available to businesses.

If this is something you wish to discuss further please contact Sarah Petrie who will put you in touch with Vita Safety.

O’Brien v Bolton St Catherine’s Academy [2017] EWCA Civ 145

Unfair dismissal and discrimination arising in consequence of a disability: consideration of both tests together is not an error of law.

Mrs O’Brien was Head of ICT at Withins School, Bolton and subsequently St Catherine’s Academy, Bolton after the School converted into an Academy. Mrs O’Brien was assaulted at the School by a pupil, which although she did not suffer grave physical harm, she began to feel unsafe at the Academy for a number of reasons. One of those reasons was her dissatisfaction at the Academy’s removal of a policy of automatic exclusion for violent and/or aggressive pupils.

GDPR for HR Professionals

21 September 2017

Forbes' Preston Office

Everyone knows the General Data Protection Regulation is coming: but what does it mean? This practical breakfast session, aimed at HR professionals, will explore the impact of GDPR and give practical tips for steps you can take now to future proof your organisation.

The seminar, which includes breakfast, will start at 8.00am and finish at 10.00am.