UK Legal News
A new fast-track procedure for approving international patent applications that will cut waiting times by more than a year has been launched.
Innovation is one of the main driving forces for Britain’s economic recovery. Delays in dealing with patent applications prevent firms from expanding and creating new jobs
The new fast-track procedure will make it quicker for [...]
BBC – 15/12/2009
British Airways PLC says it is seeking a court injunction to stop the planned strike by cabin staff after the Unite union ignored a 2 p.m. deadline to call off the proposed 12-day strike. The strike is due to take place over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
BA says it has written to the Unite union [...]
Veakins v Keir Islington Ltd – conduct must be “oppressive and unacceptable” to amount to “harassment” under 1997 Act
Court of Appeal – 02/12/2009
In a claim under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (which will be rare in matters concerning the workplace) the court must focus primarily on the requirement that the conduct complained of be “oppressive and [...]
Copyright acnowledge – Home Office
A draft Immigration Bill was published by the government on 12th November 2009.
As this home office press release explains, under measures included in this bill, “the five current application categories available to migrants will be replaced by one clear concept – ‘permission’ to be in the United Kingdom. With this new [...]
EHRC – Copyright acknowledged
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published a report, Working Better - Fathers, family and work, which has found that many fathers are afraid to request flexible working.
In what appears to be a classic instance of entitlement in theory and practice in real life being two entirely different things, the Report concludes [...]
Copyright BBC News – 15/10/2009
The CWU has announced that two 24 hour nationwide postal strikes will begin on Thursday 22 October 2009. On the first day, mail centre staff and drivers will strike, whereas on the next day it will be delivery and collection staff.
Royal Mail, which is reported as having rejected a peace deal offered by [...]
Changes to VAT rules for trade within the EU will be introduced from 1 January 2010, including:
changes to the place- and time-of-supply rules for the cross-border supplies of services
the requirement to complete quarterly EC Sales Lists for those businesses who supply goods and/or [...]
guardian.co.uk – 15/09/2009
The Prime Minister’s speech at the TUC congress on 15th September 2009, verbatim. Here are a few snippets:
“This is not the moment to cut apprenticeships this is the time for government to support them. So I can tell you that we will provide [...]
Prison Officer Amitjo Kajla, from HM Prison Brinsford, Wolverhampton, took the Prison Service to an employment tribunal, claiming constructive dismissal – and age and sex discrimination. She alleged she was bullied by colleagues, essentially due to her pleasing appearance.
Giving evidence earlier in the tribunal, former colleague, Philippa Maddox, said that Ms Kajla did not follow [...]
The National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999 (Amendment) Regulations 2009 were made on 15th July. They confirm previously announced increases in the NMW from 1st October 2009 and also amend the main regulations to ensure that tips (eg in restaurants) can no longer count towards the minimum wage as was previously sometimes possible.
The main changes are as follows:
the adult National Minimum Wage (for those [...]