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More developments in Employment Law from our Ealing expert, Louise Taft

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Louise Taft represents employees and employers in Unfair Dismissal, Discrimination, Whistleblowing and other Employment cases.


She regularly appears in Employment Tribunals and has acted on cases in Employment Appeal Tribunal and Court of Appeal.


She advises on compromise agreements and can help employers with preventative advice on disciplinary and grievance issues and drafting contracts, staff handbooks and policies.

Her hobbies include running, cooking, cinema, music and masochistic support for Oldham Athletic!

JR Jones Solicitors 02085662595

What: departments in Employment, Civil/Commercial Litigation, Dispute Resolution, Personal Injury, Family, Immigration, Claims against Public Authorities, Crime, Landlord/Tenant, Residential/Commercial Property, Wills/Probate
Where: relocated to 58 Uxbridge Road from The Mall in November 2005. Established in West London since 1989.

Who: Tasneem Raza, Armeet Sikh and Minal Popat, 13 assistant solicitors, 11 trainees and paralegals plus support staff
Interesting fact: most high profile case was representing the parents of Stephen Lawrence. Also secured the first successful civil action for murder where there had been no previous criminal proceedings.

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Review of Retirement Ages brought forward to 2010

The Government’s review of the default retirement age (currently set at 65) has been brought forward to 2010. Presently, a compulsory retirement age of 65 or over is considered lawful, provided the employer allows employees to make a request to work beyond that date.
A review as to whether that default age is still considered appropriate was scheduled for 2011 but has been brought forward in light of the “change in economic circumstances”.


Increase in Redundancy Payments from October

The statutory maximum week’s pay from which Redundancy payments are calculated will rise from £350 to £380 from 1 October.
This is intended to provide extra help for redundant employees during the recession, without providing too much extra burden on employers. You may recall that it was announced in the budget as one of the measures to help those affected in the downturn.
As a result, we won’t have the usual increase taking effect in February 2010; instead the next increase will be in February 2011.
This is also likely to apply to compensation awards in Unfair Dismissal cases, making it even more important that employers take advice before dismissing employees.

Tips won’t count towards Minimum Wage

The well publicised campaign to stop the hospitality trade using tips left by customers to top up wages and meet the National Minimum Wage has been a success. The Government has confirmed that it will introduce legislation to prevent the practice, which is likely to take effect in October.
The position to date has been complicated: where tips are not paid through payroll, they don’t count towards calculating whether the Minimum Wage is met, but where the employer collects tips and distributes them through payroll, they are able to use this money in the calculation.
Partly to simplify matters and as a result of the critical publicity on the issue, the Government have confirmed that as from October, no tips will “count” towards the Minimum Wage calculation.
The Minimum Wage is currently £5.73 for workers aged 22 and over, £4.77 for those 18-21 and £3.40 for 16 and 17 year olds.

 

July 21, 2009