Verity joins us as a consultant solicitor with over 15 years of experience helping both employer and employee clients navigate through what are often complex workplace issues.

The original right to request flexible working was introduced by section 47 of the Employment Act 2002.

We are delighted to welcome Anna Bose to the team at JMA.

The maximum amount of a week’s pay used for calculating various awards, including statutory redundancy payments and unfair dismissal basic awards will increase from £571 to £642 for dismissals take effect after 6 April 2023.

Thank you to all our clients and those we have worked with throughout the year, we are pleased to have been able to provide our support and greatly appreciate your business.

The Department for Work and Pensions has now published its annual rate increases for 2023/2024. Exact dates of implementation are yet to be confirmed, although consistent with previous years they are likely to increase on different dates during the first week or so of April 2023.

As is often the case, if the decision is made to suspend an employee communication is key. Not just in terms of being clear with the employee as to the reasons why the suspension has been considered necessary and appropriate in the circumstances but also what others will be told about the employee’s absence from the workplace, bearing in mind that the fact that the employee is suspended should also be kept confidential.

This year has been another challenging year for so many and we have been grateful to have been able to continue to work with you all and to support our clients through some difficult times.

In June this year Acas published evidence on the use of fire and rehire practices at work. The report was commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Views were sought from a range of professional bodies, including trade unions and employer organisations regarding the approach to changing terms and conditions often used as a means of saving costs.