14 January 2021
FCA sets expectations for firms to record communications when working from home
FCA focuses on risks associated with unmonitored communications, including the use of unencrypted apps, such as WhatsApp, for sharing potentially sensitive or confidential information when working from home.
4 December 2020
Regulation and Uptake of the COVID-19 Vaccine
The government has now approved the supply of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The reason they have been able to do this so quickly is because they have taken advantage of the temporary authorisation regime laid out by the Human Medicine Regulations of 2012 and 2020. The 2012 Regulations were updated in 2020 specifically to facilitate the smooth rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. In the public consultation preceding the introduction of these updated regulations, several respondents raised concerns regarding unlicensed vaccines and immunity from civil liability. In practice, very little is known about these regulations and their application. This article seeks to shed some light on the temporary authorisation regime and suggest a means of alleviating concerns in the context of “vaccine hesitancy”.
1 December 2020
The question of Christmas: How far can employers go in telling employees where to spend it?
The Government's latest announcement reducing quarantine requirements for travellers returning to England from 14 to 5 days post-15 December 2020 (providing they can provide a negative test result for COVID-19) once again raises questions for employers on what right they have to influence employees' overseas holiday and travel plans over the Christmas period.
23 November 2020
Firms brace for negligence impact
Accounting firms should be bracing themselves for a rise in professional negligence claims as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
19 November 2020
Justice delayed is justice denied for clients in lockdown limbo
The top five most stressful events in life are commonly regarded as death of a loved one; divorce; major illness or injury; job loss; and moving house (in that order). Some might argue that the Covid-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns should be a new addition to this list. Not only does it make life more stressful but also the first four events more likely.
