HLAS

The government has stated that wine producers and importers will be freed from unnecessary red tape due to proposed changes to retained EU laws on the production and marketing of wine, providing a boost to the wine industry. The changes will allow wine makers the freedom to pick from a wider range of vines, including more disease resistant varieties, and overturn the restrictions which currently prevent the wine industry from producing new blends. Bottlers will also be able to turn imported wine into sparkling wine. Changes will also include removing certain packaging requirements – such as ending the mandatory requirement [...]

Parents and carers are to be given new protections at work, covering leave entitlement and redundancy rules as three Government backed Private Members Bills received royal assent last week. This wave of new workers’ rights has been welcomed by charities and parties across parliament. When in force, these new laws aim to increase workforce participation, protect vulnerable workers, and level the playing field by ensuring unscrupulous businesses don’t have a competitive advantage and delivering on our priority to grow the economy. Parents and carers will benefit from the following new protections once in force: Up to 12 weeks of paid [...]

Tax credit claimants should be on their guard against fraudsters, as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) warns of the latest tactics being employed by scammers. HMRC has issued a new alert, providing details of a number of new scams reported that aim to trick people into handing over money or personal information. Criminals use deadlines – like the tax credits renewal deadline on 31 July – to target their victims and the department is warning around 1.5 million tax credits customers to be alert to scams that mimic government communications to make them appear genuine. Typical scam examples include: emails or [...]

All workers are legally entitled to be paid the National Minimum Wage (NMW). This includes temporary seasonal staff, who often work short-term contracts in bars, hotels, shops, and warehouses over the summer. The National Minimum Wage hourly rates from 1 April 2023 are: £10.42 – age 23 or over (National Living Wage), £10.18 – age 21 to 22, £7.49 – age 18 to 20, £5.28 – age under 18, and £5.28 – apprentice. If you need help on paying temporary staff please contact us, alternatively you can contact ACAS via their helpline if you need employment law or workplace advice. ACAS [...]

Thinking ahead and preparing for what the weather may bring can make a real difference. There are some simple steps you can take to stay safe and healthy at this time of year – from preparing your home or business to taking care of yourself, your family, and neighbours. The Met Office provide up-to-date, expert seasonal advice from carefully selected organisations to help you prepare for and respond to the weather, to stay safe and protect yourself, your homes, and businesses. See: WeatherReady - Met Office

With summer arriving and the subsequent increase in seasonal work, workers are as likely to have an accident in the first six months at a workplace as during the whole of the rest of their working life. The extra risk arises due to: lack of experience of working in a new industry or workplace; lack of familiarity with the job and the work environment; reluctance to raise concerns (or not knowing how to); and eagerness to impress workmates and managers. This means workers new to a site: may not recognise hazards as a potential source of danger; may not understand [...]

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is reminding employed workers that they can claim a refund on work-related expenses directly through GOV.UK. Workers can claim for work-related expenses including: uniforms and work clothing; buying work-related equipment; professional fees, union memberships, and subscriptions; and using their own vehicle for work travel (excluding journeys from home to work). See: Claim tax relief for your job expenses: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The British Retail Consortium (BRC), the trade association for UK retail businesses, research shows that shop price annual inflation accelerated to 9.0% at the start of May, up slightly from 8.8% in April. This is above the 3-month average rate of 8.9%. This brings shop price growth to a new high, although it is now beginning to fall. Source: Food inflation eased in May (brc.org.uk) The Office for National Statistics (ONS) April report shows that food and non-alcoholic beverage prices saw a monthly increase of 1.4% compared with a rise of 1.5% in the equivalent time period last year and an [...]

Last week Amazon announced that, for warehouse workers, it is to offer parents term-time only contracts.  The new contracts would guarantee those who care for school-age children, including guardians, six weeks of holiday in the summer and two weeks over the Easter and Christmas breaks. Employees will be entitled to all full-time benefits. Following a recent UK Government consultation, flexible working will become the default for millions of employees who will be able to request flexible working from day one of their employment. Flexible working doesn’t just mean a combination of working from home and in the office – it [...]

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has updated its guidance on managing health and safety for employers. Employers are responsible for managing health and safety in their business. This includes managing risks and taking practical steps to protect workers and others from harm. Managing risk is just one part of health and safety management. You must also have arrangements in place to: make the right plans; implement those plans; check they are working; and act if they are not. By doing this, you should be able to ensure: your risks stay controlled; and you provide a safe working environment for [...]