The law never stands still, and the way it applies to you and your organisation is constantly evolving. Our people are on top of these developments and can keep you up to date with some of the most interesting aspects of these changes. Check out our articles and updates for our perspective on issues that might affect you.
Last week, alongside an announcement on the opening of applications for the Scottish Government's business support scheme, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also announced that further rules around the wearing of face coverings in Scotland were to be introduced, in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Generally speaking, and regardless of which party comes out on top in an Employment Tribunal case, cost awards (whereby the Employment Tribunal orders one party to pay some or all of the costs of the other) remain somewhat rare. In a recent case, however, this status quo was significantly departed from when the Employment Tribunal ordered the claimant to pay around a staggering £430,000 in costs to the respondent.
The Government has published new guidance on how businesses can claim the Job Retention Bonus, a package worth a reported £9 billion. The bonus will operate alongside the newly announced Job Support Scheme (JSS), a significant part of Chancellor Rishi Sunak's Winter Economy Plan, and is designed to encourage employers to retain as many employees who have been on furlough as possible.
The Chancellor Rishi Sunak was today (24 September 2020) in Parliament to announce the next phase in the economic response to coronavirus, with the aim of protecting jobs and supporting the economy. The new "Jobs Support Scheme" will come into force in November effectively replacing the existing Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
With the anticipated ending of the scheme as we know it on 31st October 2020, there looms a number of decisions to be taken within businesses affecting workplaces throughout the UK, with difficult and risk-laden choices to be made. Recently, we've seen a number of developments that all employers need to be aware of, to monitor and to factor into their thinking.