16 September 2020
Court makes Search Order in COVID times
A search order, made pursuant to section 7 of the Civil Procedure Act 1997 and CPR Part 25, is one of the most draconian orders the English civil courts can make. No Respondent really wants a search team to enter their premises but because of Covid -19 the search team is even less welcome than usual.
10 August 2020
The implications of furlough abuse
Richard Fox explains the consequences employers can expect to face if they have intentionally or accidentally misused the job retention scheme
31 July 2020
Businesses and ministers need more than redundancy pay law to protect employees - Niki Southern quoted in HR Magazine
Niki Southern, Partner in our Employment Law team, was quoted in HR Magazine on 31 July 2020. Niki commented on new legislation protecting the entitlement to full redundancy pay for furloughed employees. Niki is supportive of the move but concerned about the risk, citing the risk of firms making redundancies earlier than planned and unfairness to those already made redundant who are not eligible for full redundancy pay.
23 July 2020
HMRC to clampdown on businesses that have abused the Furlough scheme
Furlough has undoubtedly been a huge success. According to the British Chamber of Commerce, since March the scheme has been used by two thirds of British businesses supporting approximately 9.4 million jobs. Yet at a cost approaching an eye-watering £30 billion to the taxpayer, it is understandable that the Government has confirmed it is now “using every tool and piece of intelligence to prevent, detect and disrupt fraud” in relation to the scheme.
21 July 2020
The next ethical dilemma: do we pay back furlough? - Kirsty Churm quoted in Personnel Today
Kirsty Churm, Senior Associate in our Employment Law team, was quoted in Personnel Today on 21 July 2020. Kirsty was commenting on the news that several large retailers have announced plans to pay back the furlough money they previously claimed from the Government during the height of the COVID-19 crisis. Kirsty suggests that there may be more to these decisions than civic duty or good publicity.
