There was a recent case in the Supreme Court which has highlighted the vulnerability of the survivor when one partner dies and the couple were not married. Siobhan McLaughlin successfully claimed Widowed Parents’ Allowance following her partner’s death. Current law states that this benefit is only available to bereaved partners who have children and have been married to or in … Read More
Fairness: with knobs on
There is a really interesting report this week of a decision by the Employment Appeal Tribunal that looks at a number of current issues about fairness both in general terms and procedurally, the approach of the ETs in making decisions about what is fair and the relevance of the right to be accompanied at a disciplinary/grievance hearing. Some useful guidance … Read More
Shop and Office Fit Out Works: What Does the Lease Say?
Most retail shops and offices will be occupied by tenant owners under the terms of a Lease. The issue of fitting out the shop or office will usually arise as part of the negotiations when a new Lease is granted to the original tenant or at a later stage if either the tenant transfers the Lease to a new tenant … Read More
TSSA and Morrish Solicitors win case of disability discrimination and victimisation against Network Rail
TSSA and Morrish Solicitors have won a long-running case of disability discrimination and victimisation against Network Rail, which has resulted in the employer having to pay in excess of £32,000 in compensation. Natalie Brown was and remains employed as an information controller for Network Rail. At the time of these events between November 2016 and June 2017, she suffered from … Read More
Legal advice privilege – Disability Discrimination
As a general rule advice passing between lawyer and client is “privileged” i.e. the client is not bound to disclose it in legal proceedings. An exception to that rule is “iniquity” e.g. when the advice is being used for fraudulent activity. In X v Y Ltd the EAT has looked at the iniquity exemption in the context of “how to … Read More
Dismissal and the Statutory Notice Period
It is generally well known that a Claimant looking to bring a claim for unfair dismissal can add the statutory week’s notice period to their period of continuous employment, to get them ‘over the line’ in relation to the 2-year qualifying period. So: an employee with 1 year and 51 weeks’ service who is sacked by an employer who gives … Read More
Compensation for bus driver following life-changing injuries
A former bus driver has received a six-figure sum in compensation after being injured in a fall at work that left him with life-changing injuries and the loss of his job. Unite member Mr Courtman, who worked for First West Yorkshire Limited, was collecting fares and as the bus drove out of Bradford Interchange, a car pulled out, causing the … Read More
Unite Legal Services help bus driver hit head-on by ambulance
A former bus driver has received £150,000 in compensation after being involved in a serious road traffic accident that left him with extensive injuries. Unite member Graham Codling, who was employed as a bus driver for Yorkshire Coastliner, was driving his bus on the A64, when an ambulance suddenly swerved directly into his path. Despite Graham hitting the brakes as hard as he could, a head-on collision could not be avoided. The driving cab was completely crushed … Read More
Morrish Solicitors Shortlisted in the Yorkshire Legal Awards 2018
Morrish Solicitors are delighted to announce, on Yorkshire Day, that we have been shortlisted in the Yorkshire Legal Awards 2018 for the Employment Law Award. This shortlisting identifies the performance of the firm as a whole and the innovative measures contributing to its success. The firm will be judged on the quality of legal services offered, both in terms of significant cases … Read More
Employment Update: Is it appealing to appeal?
In the recent case of Patel v Folkestone Nursing Home Limited [2018] EWCA Civ 1689 the Court of Appeal have delved into the surprisingly complex and messy area concerning appeals against dismissal or disciplinary sanctions. The Claimant was a care assistant dismissed over two charges of misconduct. As is often the case, his written contract of employment identified that the … Read More
Employment Update: Hot potatoes and crystallised rights
Hot potatoes and crystallised rights. What are we talking about? You might think the June hot weather has really got to us this month but our ‘hot potato’ is illegally obtained information in the context of trade union activities and our ‘crystallised rights’ relate to comparators in equal pay claims. Morris v Metrolink RATP Dev (Court of Appeal) Mr Morris … Read More
“The incapacity crisis: a nation unprepared”
Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE) launch a campaign this week which aims to raise awareness of health and welfare Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA’s). SFE have built a report with think-tank Centre for Future Studies (CFS) which highlights the issues surrounding the lack of planning for mental incapacity and, backed by the evidence, demonstrates a looming incapacity crisis. Incapacity is … Read More
Leeds solicitors walking challenge helps support children’s cancer charity
Staff from Leeds-based firm Morrish Solicitors recently boosted their fundraising efforts for children’s cancer charity, Candlelighters, by completing the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge. Morrish are almost half way through a 2 year partnership which will see them raise money for this Yorkshire wide charity. As well as completing the 3 Peaks Walk the firm have also held regular dress down … Read More
Why should I use a Solicitor?
The ageing population means that there is a large and increasing market for legal services for elderly people. Services in which elderly people are often interested are:- Wills Powers of Attorney Concerns about costs of residential/nursing care Equity Release Advice regarding dementia/mental incapacity Individuals are free to obtain legal advice from wherever they choose. The advice could be from a … Read More
EFWU celebrate a year with Morrish Solicitors
Equality for Workers Union (EFWU) is delighted to have been working with Morrish Solicitors over the past year, offering their members a free legal advice, a no win, no fee personal injury service, employment representation and discounted legal services. We believe that it is essential and important to offer a full legal service to the EFWU membership – in order … Read More
World Cup 2018 – How to support your team whilst staying on-side
With the largest sporting event in the world less than a month away, now seems an apt time to address how to avoid falling foul of your employer’s policies during the World Cup. On the off chance you haven’t already seen them, the match times have already been released this year and the majority of them fall within normal working … Read More
New dress code and sex discrimination guidance released
The Government Equalities Office has released new guidance for employers on workplace dress codes. This comes after recommendations from the Parliamentary Women and Equalities Select Committee and the Petitions Committee. Gender Specific Dress Codes The guidance also considers employees who wear religious symbols. It states that “employers should be flexible” when setting their dress codes so as not to prohibit … Read More
Introducing our new GDPR policies
Today we introduce our revised Data Protection Policy, which is GDPR compliant. Please click here, to view our up-to-date Privacy Standard. In addition, every client should read our new Privacy Notice.
Slavery in the UK Report
The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) has published a new report (http://www.gla.gov.uk/whats-new/latest-press-releases/slavery-and-exploitation-laid-bare-in-new-glaa-report-5518/) updating their original 2016 report that looks at the risks, threats and general trends identified during 2017 and forward into 2018. Key findings include: Victims of exploitation are most commonly Vietnamese, Albanian and British with British victims increasing by 362%. Forced labour accounts for approximately 30% of … Read More
Director of Labour Market Enforcement announces measures to help tackle worker exploitation
The Government’s Director of Labour Market Enforcement, David Metcalf (appointed in January 2017 to oversee the strategic priorities for the government’s three enforcement agencies, HMRC’s National Minimum Wage (NMW) enforcement team, the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) and the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EAS)) has made 37 recommendations. They include: Holiday pay enforcement: Evidence presented to the Director during … Read More
Yorkshire 3 Peaks – we did it!
Well we did it! What an absolutely amazing experience. It was extremely tough, but the team finished all 3 Peaks. Despite all of the aching limbs and sunburn, it was worth it to raise so much money for Candlelighters. Thank you to all of our supporters. You really have made a difference! Well done Claire Weldon, Carol Evans, Sue Poole, Noelle Heath, James … Read More
Man who fell through roof awarded compensation
A man has been awarded £190,000 compensation after suffering life-changing injuries when he fell through an asbestos roof whilst at work on a farm in 2014. Garry Stott, who was 45 at the time of the accident, was carrying out maintenance work on the guttering of a roof on a corn store, when the roof gave way and he fell … Read More
Sexual Harassment at Work – How to Start Fixing the Problem
Last year, a BBC survey revealed that half of British women and a fifth of men have been sexually harassed at work. And with momentum generated by the #MeToo campaign, sexual harassment has been in the spotlight in recent months. The Equalities and Human Rights Commission has now published its new report, on 27 March 2018. The report shares evidence … Read More
Unite member compensated after suffering knee injury at work
Unite member, Carole Gray, has secured compensation following an accident at work. Carole, who was employed as a Ward Receptionist at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, injured her knee when she slipped on a pile of patient notes on the floor. Over the course of the week, Carole’s knee got badly swollen and she underwent an x-ray and MRI scan to investigate. … Read More
Disability Employment Gap
The gender pay gap has been hitting the headlines recently but what about the disability employment gap? Under the Equality Act 2010 a disability is defined as “a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on [one’s] ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.” The disability employment gap is the difference between employment rates of … Read More
Employment Tribunal statistics
On 8 March 2018 the Ministry of Justice published the Provisional Tribunals and Gender Recognition Statistics for the quarterly period from October to December 2017. The statistics within this report are compared to the same quarter for the previous year. The report focuses on the three largest tribunals. The Employment Tribunal’s cases represent about a third of the total and … Read More
Morrish Solicitors help cyclist hit by car
A woman from York has received compensation following a traffic collision, which left her with injuries to her shoulder, neck and lower back. The accident happened on the evening of 7 January 2014 whilst she was cycling home from work. As she was riding within the cycle lane on a roundabout, she was hit by a car as it tried … Read More
Pensions and Divorce: Women are missing out on £5 billion every year
Women going through divorce could be missing out on up to £5 billion every year because they don’t discuss pensions when dividing up the assets of the marriage. Pensions are often the second largest matrimonial asset after the matrimonial home. Whilst the ability to share in a spouse’s pension has been available to divorcing couples for nearly 20 years, all … Read More
Congratulations to the British Grooms Association on industry recognition
We would like to congratulate our client, the British Grooms Association, on being crowned finalist of the prestigious Sir Colin Spedding Award 2018, at the 2018 National Equine Forum (NEF). The BGA was shortlisted for the award for its contribution to the equestrian industry and singlehandedly raising the awareness of the importance of legal and good employment practices in the equestrian industry. … Read More
Did snow cause problems at work?
With the recent snowfall and subsequent workplace closures, many people may face deductions to their pay for non-attendance. The following is a general question and answer to provide some guidance on what you should do if you feel amounts have been unfairly deducted from your pay. The following is for general information only and is not a substitute for taking … Read More