ACAS issues guidance on home-working for employers and employees – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) has set out the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees when working from home, in response to government advice for many workers to stay away from the office.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 20th March 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

“Outrage” as only partners are allowed to work from home – Legal Futures

‘A union representing legal workers has expressed outrage at the “classist allocation of risk” that is seeing law firm partners work from home while other staff are forced into the office during the coronavirus pandemic.’

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Legal Futures, 18th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Reasonable adjustments – Is it relevant that the employee didn’t mention them? – 3PB

‘The dispute arose from the claimant’s back problems, which, it was agreed, made her disabled within the Equality Act 2010. She was unable to travel far and wanted to work mainly from home. This caused difficulty because her role, auditing the performance of National Health Service bodies, was “client facing” and required her to visit those bodies. She was eventually dismissed for reason of ill-health capability after an occupational health report and negotiations with her union representative. The respondent was concerned that she was not meeting her financial targets, i.e. the required amount of chargeable time billed to the respondent’s clients. These receipts from clients funded her salary. There were not enough clients within the short travelling distance from her home that she could manage.’

Full Story

3PB, 7th February 2020

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Flexible operating hours must stop, says incoming Bar Council chair – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 4th, 2019 in barristers, courts, diversity, flexible working, news by tracey

‘Flexible operating hours in courts are “an anathema to those with caring responsibilities” and inhibit diversity at the bar, the incoming chair of the Bar Council has said.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 3rd December 2019

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

City firms’ presenteeism culture in the dock – Legal Futures

Posted November 20th, 2019 in families, flexible working, law firms, news by sally

‘The case of a City lawyer told that leaving work slightly early to pick up her children was setting a bad example, shows how the profession needs to work on changing the culture of presenteeism, a flexible working specialist has argued.’

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Legal Futures, 20th November 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Top law firm criticised for ‘chaining employees to desk’ with 24-hour concierge service – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 2nd, 2019 in employment, flexible working, law firms, news, solicitors, working time by sally

‘A law firm has given its solicitors a concierge service to run their errands, prompting criticism that they are trying to chain staff to their desks.’

Full Story

Daily Telegraph, 31st August 2019

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Zero-hours workers may get compensation for cancelled shifts – The Guardian

‘Companies could be forced to compensate workers on zero-hours or flexible contracts for cancelled shifts, under government proposals.’

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The Guardian, 19th July 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Flexible court hours pilots to start in September – Litigation Futures

Posted June 25th, 2019 in civil justice, family courts, flexible working, news, pilot schemes by sally

‘The flexible operating hours (FOH) pilots for civil and family courts are to begin on 2 September, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced.’

Full Story

Litigation Futures, 24th June 2019

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

Can I work from home as a lawyer? – The Guardian

Posted March 27th, 2019 in employment, flexible working, legal profession, mental health, news, solicitors by sally

‘Agile working is on the rise in the legal profession, with employees free to work where, when and how they choose.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 26th March 2019

Source: www.theguardian.com

Hallett tells senior lawyers to step up on discrimination – Legal Futures

‘Top women judges have called on senior lawyers to take responsibility for ensuring there is no discrimination in their organisations rather than leaving it to diversity specialists.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 11th March 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Female barristers highlight clash between work and family – Legal Futures

Posted January 23rd, 2019 in barristers, families, flexible working, news, women by sally

‘Research led by female barristers has highlighted the stark choices faced by women trying to balance working in private practice with looking after children.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 22nd January 2019

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Workers get new rights in overhaul but zero-hours contracts remain – The Guardian

‘The government has introduced what it claims to be the biggest package of workplace reforms for 20 years after concerns that ministers have failed to appeal to voters who are “just about managing”.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 17th December 2018

Source: www.theguardian.com

Courts to pilot more flexible hours for the benefit of the public – Ministry of Justice

Posted November 16th, 2018 in courts, flexible working, pilot schemes, press releases by tracey

‘Early and late sittings will be piloted in civil and family courts, giving people greater access to hearings that can fit around their busy lives.’

Full press release

Ministry of Justice, 16th November 2018

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Wish you weren’t here? – New Law Journal

Posted June 18th, 2018 in electronic mail, flexible working, holidays, legal profession, news by sally

‘Step out of the office & take some time to reflect on your work/life balance, says Matthew Kay.’

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New Law Journal, 13th June 2018

Source: www.newlawjournal.co.uk

Barristers bring flexible courts into legal aid action – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Criminal barristers refusing to take on new legal aid work have asked the government to abandon plans to test new operating hours for courts, as heads of chambers prepare to discuss whether or not to accept the government’s surprise offer of investment last week.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 30th May 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Big gap between male and female lawyers in perception of gender equality progress, Law Society finds – Legal Futures

Posted March 8th, 2018 in equality, flexible working, legal profession, news, solicitors, women by tracey

‘Three-quarters (74%) of male lawyers believe there has been progress on gender equality in the legal profession over the past five years but less than half (48%) of their female colleagues agree, a global survey has found.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 8th March 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

Posted February 12th, 2018 in armed forces, flexible working, legislation, taxation, telecommunications by tracey

Telecommunications Infrastructure (Relief from Non-Domestic Rates) Act 2018

Armed Forces (Flexible Working) Act 2018

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Do more than the bare minimum on parental leave, chambers told – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 9th, 2018 in barristers, flexible working, maternity leave, news, paternity leave by tracey

‘The Bar Council has urged chambers to go beyond the bare minimum in supporting parental leave and hopes its new guide will encourage caring responsibilites to be more fairly divided.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 8th February 2018

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

BSB to consider whether chambers need ‘work allocation officers’ to ensure equality – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is to consider requiring that chambers have a ‘work allocation officer’ as part of its Women at the Bar equality project, it emerged yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 26th January 2018

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Taking stock of the gig economy: lessons for technology companies – Panopticon

Posted January 4th, 2018 in employment, flexible working, news, self-employment by sally

‘A combination of high profile cases and policy announcements about the so-called “gig economy” has a particular resonance for technology companies. Technological change has transformed the labour market, which has given added urgency to finding better solutions to three much older problems:

– How should we best draw the line between the independent contractors, workers and employees?
– Should the self-employed and employees be taxed differently?
– How should personal service companies be treated for tax purposes?’

Full Story

Panopticon, 2nd January 2018

Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk