Latest News

Employment Law Changes for 2011

admin — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 10:01:41 -0500

Compensatory Awards increases effective from 1st February 2011:

Maximum Basic Award £12,000

Maximum Weekly Rate (statutory redundancy rate) £400 per week

Maximum compensatory award for Unfair Dismissal £68,400

Christmas 2010

admin — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 11:32:06 -0500

For many companies the arrangements will be well underway for festive celebrations. These events provide an excellent opportunity to congratulate staff for their achievements and to recognise employees' efforts during a difficult year for businesses.

Whilst the majority of events will go smoothly and everyone involved will have a good time, employers need to be aware of the potential pitfalls of the party season.

Snow Disruption - What are an employer's rights?

admin — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:29:21 -0500

It is that time of year again when heavy snow and ice is likely to cause much disruption to businesses across the UK. The MET office has warned that the current cold weather is likely to last for some time to come and it is only December!
read more

Latest HSE Figures - East of England is a safer place to work

admin — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 07:34:03 -0500

Fewer people in the East of England are dying or being seriously injured at work, according to figures for 2009/10 released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE):

- There were 2,298 serious workplace injuries recorded in the region last year compared to 2,359 in 2008/9 and 10 deaths - 2 fewer than the previous year.

- In contrast, however, the number of people in the East of England who believe they were made ill through their work rose by 3,000 from an estimated 125,000 in 2008/09 to an estimated 128,000 last y
read more

Fewer deaths and injuries in manufacturing - improvement still needed

admin — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 06:44:34 -0500

According to the latest figures released by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), fewer people employed in manufacturing are being injured or killed by their work.

Between April 2009 and March 2010, the number of reported major injuries, such as amputations or broken bones fell by eleven percent from 4,331 to 3,863 in Britain.
read more

Gas Safe Register - Only use legally registered workmen

admin — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 06:30:40 -0500

A self-employed plumber from Bury St Edmunds has been prosecuted after carrying out illegal work on gas boilers that was so bad it put his customers' lives at risk.

Michael Gallimore admitted breaching health and safety laws at Bury St Edmunds Magistrates' Court. Mr Gallimore had also falsely claimed to be a legally registered engineer while working.

This case provides a clear lesson to employers that if they plan to have plumbing work completed on gas boilers, they must ensure that the plumber is registered on the Gas Safe Register.
read more

Warning - you must have Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI)

admin — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 06:08:53 -0500

A landscaping firm from Norfolk has been fined for failing to buy compulsory insurance to protect its employees. All companies should heed this as a warning of the consequences of not holding ELCI.

The Norfolk Ranger Ltd was fined £700 at Swaffham Magistrates' Court and ordered to pay £300 in costs.

The court was told that the company in question had failed to produce a current Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI) certificate when asked to do so by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in April this year.
read more

Essex Cement Company ordered to pay over £150,000 after worker set on fire

admin — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 11:35:57 -0500

An international cement company, Lafarge Cement UK, has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a worker was set alight in an explosion.

Paul Ridings, 39, and Electrical Engineer from South Benfleet, Essex had been contracted to work for the company, when he was engulfed by a fireball at the firm's site at Thurrock Marine Terminal, Grays, Essex.

Basildon Crown Court today heard that on 10 October 2008, Mr Ridings was investigating a fault with an energy meter when he inadvertently disturbed a loose connection and exposed
read more

Default Retirement Age Law Changes - What it really means for employers:

admin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 06:41:40 -0400

What is changing?

Currently employers can make employees retire at the age of 65, as long as the statutory retirement procedure is followed. This default retirement age of 65 is to be removed.

Whilst the DRA won't be scrapped until 1st October 2011, from the 6th April 2011 to the 30th September 2011 the default retirement age will begin to be phased out in a transition period.
read more

Firework Displays at Work - Have Fun and Stay Safe

admin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 06:30:16 -0400

Latest News

Employment Law Changes for 2011

Compensatory Awards increases effective from 1st February 2011:

Christmas 2010

For many companies the arrangements will be well underway for festive celebrations. These events provide an excellent opportunity to congratulate staff for their achievements and to recognise employees' efforts during a difficult year for businesses.

Whilst the majority of events will go smoothly and everyone involved will have a good time, employers need to be aware of the potential pitfalls of the party season.

read more

Snow Disruption - What are an employer's rights?

It is that time of year again when heavy snow and ice is likely to cause much disruption to businesses across the UK. The MET office has warned that the current cold weather is likely to last for some time to come and it is only December!
read more

Latest HSE Figures - East of England is a safer place to work

Fewer people in the East of England are dying or being seriously injured at work, according to figures for 2009/10 released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE):

- There were 2,298 serious workplace injuries recorded in the region last year compared to 2,359 in 2008/9 and 10 deaths - 2 fewer than the previous year.

- In contrast, however, the number of people in the East of England who believe they were made ill through their work rose by 3,000 from an estimated 125,000 in 2008/09 to an estimated 128,000 last y
read more

Fewer deaths and injuries in manufacturing - improvement still needed

According to the latest figures released by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), fewer people employed in manufacturing are being injured or killed by their work.

Between April 2009 and March 2010, the number of reported major injuries, such as amputations or broken bones fell by eleven percent from 4,331 to 3,863 in Britain.
read more

Gas Safe Register - Only use legally registered workmen

A self-employed plumber from Bury St Edmunds has been prosecuted after carrying out illegal work on gas boilers that was so bad it put his customers' lives at risk.

Michael Gallimore admitted breaching health and safety laws at Bury St Edmunds Magistrates' Court. Mr Gallimore had also falsely claimed to be a legally registered engineer while working.

This case provides a clear lesson to employers that if they plan to have plumbing work completed on gas boilers, they must ensure that the plumber is registered on the Gas Safe Register.
read more

Warning - you must have Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI)

A landscaping firm from Norfolk has been fined for failing to buy compulsory insurance to protect its employees. All companies should heed this as a warning of the consequences of not holding ELCI.

The Norfolk Ranger Ltd was fined £700 at Swaffham Magistrates' Court and ordered to pay £300 in costs.

The court was told that the company in question had failed to produce a current Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI) certificate when asked to do so by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in April this year.
read more

Essex Cement Company ordered to pay over £150,000 after worker set on fire

An international cement company, Lafarge Cement UK, has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a worker was set alight in an explosion.

Paul Ridings, 39, and Electrical Engineer from South Benfleet, Essex had been contracted to work for the company, when he was engulfed by a fireball at the firm's site at Thurrock Marine Terminal, Grays, Essex.

Basildon Crown Court today heard that on 10 October 2008, Mr Ridings was investigating a fault with an energy meter when he inadvertently disturbed a loose connection and exposed
read more

Default Retirement Age Law Changes - What it really means for employers:

What is changing?

Currently employers can make employees retire at the age of 65, as long as the statutory retirement procedure is followed. This default retirement age of 65 is to be removed.

Whilst the DRA won't be scrapped until 1st October 2011, from the 6th April 2011 to the 30th September 2011 the default retirement age will begin to be phased out in a transition period.
read more

Firework Displays at Work - Have Fun and Stay Safe

Fireworks displays are great fun. As such, around this time of year and Christmas, you may be thinking about organising an event for your employees.

If you are planning to hold an event, you must plan responsibly before the event and manage the display carefully during the event.

Below are some Health & Safety aspects that you must consider to make your event as enjoyable and safe as possible.

Before the Event:

- Check that the site of the display is suitable and large enough.
read more

Latest News

Employment Law Changes for 2011

Compensatory Awards increases effective from 1st February 2011:

Christmas 2010

For many companies the arrangements will be well underway for festive celebrations. These events provide an excellent opportunity to congratulate staff for their achievements and to recognise employees' efforts during a difficult year for businesses.

Whilst the majority of events will go smoothly and everyone involved will have a good time, employers need to be aware of the potential pitfalls of the party season.

read more

Snow Disruption - What are an employer's rights?

It is that time of year again when heavy snow and ice is likely to cause much disruption to businesses across the UK. The MET office has warned that the current cold weather is likely to last for some time to come and it is only December!read more

Latest HSE Figures - East of England is a safer place to work

Fewer people in the East of England are dying or being seriously injured at work, according to figures for 2009/10 released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE):

- There were 2,298 serious workplace injuries recorded in the region last year compared to 2,359 in 2008/9 and 10 deaths - 2 fewer than the previous year.

- In contrast, however, the number of people in the East of England who believe they were made ill through their work rose by 3,000 from an estimated 125,000 in 2008/09 to an estimated 128,000 last yread more

Fewer deaths and injuries in manufacturing - improvement still needed

According to the latest figures released by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), fewer people employed in manufacturing are being injured or killed by their work.

Between April 2009 and March 2010, the number of reported major injuries, such as amputations or broken bones fell by eleven percent from 4,331 to 3,863 in Britain.read more

Gas Safe Register - Only use legally registered workmen

A self-employed plumber from Bury St Edmunds has been prosecuted after carrying out illegal work on gas boilers that was so bad it put his customers' lives at risk.

Michael Gallimore admitted breaching health and safety laws at Bury St Edmunds Magistrates' Court. Mr Gallimore had also falsely claimed to be a legally registered engineer while working.

This case provides a clear lesson to employers that if they plan to have plumbing work completed on gas boilers, they must ensure that the plumber is registered on the Gas Safe Register.read more

Warning - you must have Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI)

A landscaping firm from Norfolk has been fined for failing to buy compulsory insurance to protect its employees. All companies should heed this as a warning of the consequences of not holding ELCI.

The Norfolk Ranger Ltd was fined £700 at Swaffham Magistrates' Court and ordered to pay £300 in costs.

The court was told that the company in question had failed to produce a current Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI) certificate when asked to do so by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in April this year.read more

Essex Cement Company ordered to pay over £150,000 after worker set on fire

An international cement company, Lafarge Cement UK, has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a worker was set alight in an explosion.

Paul Ridings, 39, and Electrical Engineer from South Benfleet, Essex had been contracted to work for the company, when he was engulfed by a fireball at the firm's site at Thurrock Marine Terminal, Grays, Essex.

Basildon Crown Court today heard that on 10 October 2008, Mr Ridings was investigating a fault with an energy meter when he inadvertently disturbed a loose connection and exposedread more

Default Retirement Age Law Changes - What it really means for employers:

What is changing?

Currently employers can make employees retire at the age of 65, as long as the statutory retirement procedure is followed. This default retirement age of 65 is to be removed.

Whilst the DRA won't be scrapped until 1st October 2011, from the 6th April 2011 to the 30th September 2011 the default retirement age will begin to be phased out in a transition period.read more

Firework Displays at Work - Have Fun and Stay Safe

Fireworks displays are great fun. As such, around this time of year and Christmas, you may be thinking about organising an event for your employees.

If you are planning to hold an event, you must plan responsibly before the event and manage the display carefully during the event.

Below are some Health & Safety aspects that you must consider to make your event as enjoyable and safe as possible.

Before the Event:

- Check that the site of the display is suitable and large enough.read more

It is that time of year again when heavy snow and ice is likely to cause much disruption to businesses across the UK. The MET office has warned that the current cold weather is likely to last for some time to come and it is only December!
read more

- In contrast, however, the number of people in the East of England who believe they were made ill through their work rose by 3,000 from an estimated 125,000 in 2008/09 to an estimated 128,000 last y
read more

Between April 2009 and March 2010, the number of reported major injuries, such as amputations or broken bones fell by eleven percent from 4,331 to 3,863 in Britain.
read more

This case provides a clear lesson to employers that if they plan to have plumbing work completed on gas boilers, they must ensure that the plumber is registered on the Gas Safe Register.
read more

The court was told that the company in question had failed to produce a current Employers' Liability Compulsory Insurance (ELCI) certificate when asked to do so by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in April this year.
read more

Basildon Crown Court today heard that on 10 October 2008, Mr Ridings was investigating a fault with an energy meter when he inadvertently disturbed a loose connection and exposed
read more

Whilst the DRA won't be scrapped until 1st October 2011, from the 6th April 2011 to the 30th September 2011 the default retirement age will begin to be phased out in a transition period.
read more

- Check that the site of the display is suitable and large enough.
read more