26 October 2020
Furlough Fraud - what about the other £2bn?
The headlines of 23 October 2020, reported the staggering estimate that between 5 and 10 per cent of the £39 billion paid under the Government’s job retention scheme has been claimed fraudulently.
23 October 2020
Coronavirus business loan scheme fraud
In response to the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic, the government introduced a number of loan schemes in order to assist businesses struggling financially. Recent reports suggest that these schemes, as outlined below, have become a target for fraudulent loan applications, by both genuine businesses and also organised criminal enterprises. This blog briefly examines the various loan schemes in place and the criminal offences which are likely to be the focus of investigating authorities in the coming months.
30 September 2020
Covid-19 forces farmers to consider their mortality and protect family - Laura Phillips quoted in Today's Wills & Probate
24 September 2020
Coronavirus return to work u-turn causes mental health and redundancy concerns - Niki Southern quoted in HR Magazine
Niki Southern, Partner in our Employment Law team, was quoted in HR Magazine on Wednesday 23 September 2020. Niki was commenting on the updated government guidance urging workers to once again work from home where possible. Niki warned of the risk of further redundancies in certain sectors, as well as potential claims for unfair dismissal should employees lose their jobs for refusing to return to the workplace due to safety concerns.
17 September 2020
The post-lockdown return to work: what are the key considerations for employers?
With the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“Furlough Scheme”) coming to an end in October, children returning to school this month and the Government’s new “rule of six” imposing stricter social measures in order to keep businesses open, many employees are now making a return to the workplace. Whilst this is generally a positive development for the economy at large, it will inevitably open up a number of challenges for employers. We consider below some of the key practical considerations for businesses and suggest steps they can take in order to minimise their exposure to legal risks.