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Business groups voice opposition to 'crippling' retirement age plans
Business organisations have hit out at Government plans to scrap the default retirement age, removing employers' ability to retire staff when they reach 65. [July 30, 2010] [In Current Issues]

Equality Act - are you prepared for the changes?
Acas, the employment relations service, has launched new guidance to help businesses understand and prepare for the changes to the new single Equality Act. [July 9, 2010] [In Current Issues]

Things for employers to watch out for during the World Cup
Given the importance of the World Cup to many employees, what should employers look out for in terms of absence and discipline in the workplace? [June 8, 2010] [In Current Issues]

The Bribery Act 2010 and small businesses
One of the last Acts of Parliament to be passed in the dying days of the last Parliament was the Bribery Act 2010. And for once, it is quite a short statute – but one with a long reach as it is broad-ranging in its language and it specifically covers corruption abroad. [June 1, 2010] [In Legal Guides]

Family businesses - A guide to governance structures
A family charter typically sets out how the family wishes the business to be run, the family’s goals and the long-term strategy for the business, as well as the family’s relationship with the business and an agreement as to how the family members should behave towards each other in the context of the business. [May 25, 2010] [In Legal Guides]

Definitely mayhem: Oasis accounts lay bare problems of family business fall-out says law firm
A leading law firm says the recent filing of accounts by Manchester rock band Oasis ‘lay bare’ the dangers of family run businesses falling out and the vital importance of setting up a ‘family business constitution’. [May 12, 2010] [In Current Issues]

Is a legal services supermarket coming your way?
The legal profession is about to be radically changed. If you would like to buy some shares in one of the large City law firms or get a will written while you are in the local supermarket or WH Smith, this may soon be possible. [May 5, 2010] [In Current Issues]

How to manage and minimise the legal risks to small companies
We look at some key legal risks that can affect small businesses and how to manage and minimise such risks - ownership issues, employment issues and dealing with customers and clients. [April 30, 2010] [In Legal Guides]

Employment lawyer welcomes introduction of 'Fit Notes'
A leading employment lawyer has welcomed the introduction of ‘fit notes’ for employees who are on sick leave, believing it will bring a significant reduction in the level of absenteeism in the workplace. [April 7, 2010] [In Current Issues]

Companies Act 2006 - how it has affected small businesses
Following the final implementation of the Companies Act 2006, we look at the impact the changes have had on how small businesses operate in the UK [March 15, 2010] [In Legal Guides]

Firms warned of tough new regime for health and safety breaches causing death
A leading North West law firm is urging businesses in the region to review their health and safety polices after tough new sentencing guidelines for corporate manslaughter offences came into force. [March 10, 2010] [In Current Issues]

Warning to business owners over missed garden leave clause in employment contracts
Business owners could land themselves in hot water by putting employees on garden leave, without checking the terms of employment contracts first, says a legal specialist. [March 9, 2010] [In Current Issues]

Employers urged to make best use of new 'fit note' regime
A leading law firm is urging employers to prepare for a new fit note regime coming into force on April 6 which aims to tackle the problems of absenteeism which costs the UK economy £100bn a year. [March 8, 2010] [In Current Issues]

Bullying in the workplace - advice for employees
Reports of workplace bullying have doubled in the last ten years and the recession has put extra pressure on managers and bosses to get results meaning they may act in a way that is out of character. Some expert legal advice to employees who are being bullied in the workplace. [March 2, 2010] [In Staff Guides]

Employers' guide to managing sick leave
As a small business owner, it is likely that you will have had at least a couple of employees call in sick this winter and with the cold weather expected to last a while longer, sick leave may become a HR issue that you deal with well into Spring. [February 3, 2010] [In Staff Guides]

Discrimination law - a cautionary tale for small business employers
A leading law firm is urging small business employers not to mire themselves in a muddle of discrimination law, after a Jobcentre Plus website refused to place an advert for a ‘reliable worker’. [January 29, 2010] [In Current Issues]

Law firm urges small businesses to be prepared for major changes in discrimination law
A leading North West law firm is issuing an urgent plea to employers and HR directors to start planning now for the Equality Bill and other discrimination law changes, which are likely to come into force during 2010. [January 22, 2010] [In Current Issues]

Why are written contracts importance to businesses?
In this article, Andew Taylor explains why written contracts are both necessary and important to small businesses. [January 11, 2010] [In Legal Guides]

Employers and festive staff holidays - the basics
Businesses could be heading for trouble over the festive season if they haven’t organised employees’ holiday entitlement correctly. Here are the answers to the most frequently asked festive holiday queries. [December 22, 2009] [In Staff Guides]

The importance of intellectual property
What is involved in protecting your intellectual assets - including patents, copyright, brand names, trade marks, design rights, domain names and online content. [December 7, 2009] [In Legal Guides]

Top tips for managing staff holidays
As a small business owner, you should think about the ways in which you handle staff holiday. Outlined in this article are four top tips to help you manage this process yourself and save money. [December 1, 2009] [In Staff Guides]

Small businesses "at risk from equal pay claims"
A leading Merseyside law firm is urging the UK's small business owners to ensure their salary policies are fair following of a glut of equal pay claims in the public sector. [November 25, 2009] [In Current Issues]

One in four small businesses "intending to hire within next three months"
A quarter of small companies are planning on hiring new staff within the next three months according to new research from a leading business software provider. [November 20, 2009] [In Current Issues]

Staying legal – how to ensure your web business is compliant with UK regulations
You often hear business people complaining about red tape, and unfortunately they are right. Like every area of business these days, ecommerce has its own rules, regulations and laws. In fact, selling online tends to be worse because of the international dimension. [November 4, 2009] [In Legal Guides]

Legal firm warns against employing agency workers to break strikes
A leading North West law firm is warning the UK’s 4 million small firms not to draft in agency workers to cover for striking staff, since this could breach employment regulations and result in a high fine. [October 26, 2009] [In Current Issues]

New rules for businesses come into play on 1st October 2009
A raft of new legislation comes into play from 1st October 2009, including the main implementation of the Companies Act 2006. [September 29, 2009] [In Current Issues]

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