News

Scotland's top firms

Friday 7th November 2014

The Herald reports on Scotland's top law firms in its Lawyers 2014 supplement. The content is based on the research findings of Chambers UK and The Legal 500.

Intelligence agencies spying on lawyers

Friday 7th November 2014

Documents disclosed to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal reveal intelligence services have routinely been intercepting legally confidential lawyer-to-client communications. Policy papers held by MI5, MI6 and GCHQ were released after a claim brought on behalf of Abdel Hakim Belhaj and Sami al-Saadi, who were kidnapped along with members of their family and sent to Libya in 2004 where they were tortured.

Tribunal rules overtime should count in holiday pay

Wednesday 5th November 2014

Posted By: James

Tribunal rules overtime should count in holiday pay

Around 5m people could be eligible to collect backdated holiday pay, after the Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled that employers must include overtime when calculating holiday pay. Unite brought cases against Amec and Hertel; the union said the employees consistently worked overtime, but that was not included in holiday pay, meaning they received “considerably less” pay when on holiday compared to when they were working. Linklaters partner Jean Lovett described the financial implications for many firms as “significant”, while Mike Cherry, policy chairman of the FSB, said: “The government must bring in emergency legislation to prevent the backdated claims. [If they don’t act] hundreds of businesses will shut down and that will lead to thousands of employees being laid off”. Adam Lambert, of Clyde & Co, added: "What may look like a victory for workers could lead to employers having to recover the pay through other means".

Guidance for teachers says sex at 13 is normal

Wednesday 5th November 2014

Posted By: james

A sexual health booklet issued by Brook and the Sex Education Forum has suggested that sex between 13-year-olds is a normal part of growing up.

New employment rules on flexible working hamper jobs growth

Thursday 30th October 2014

Posted By: James

The British Chambers of Commerce has warned that firms feel new flexible working rules and changes to paternity leave have created a big threat to job creation as they prove time-consuming and expensive to implement.