Recent Posts
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Menopause leave rejected by government for being too 'left wing'
As regular readers of this blog know, earlier this year the government rejected many of the suggestions made by the Women and Equalities...
02/03/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-03-01-17-20-43-649-63ff896bf636ea1a2097ee4d.jpg)
Consultation Response: Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill - reforms to national planning policy
After a great deal of internal discussion, conversations with clients and contacts and general chewing of (metaphorical) pens, our...
01/03/23![](https://images.passle.net/fit-in/400x400/filters:crop(0,25,612,342)/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-03-01-15-39-31-100-63ff71b3f636ea1a2097cac0.jpg)
School reference highlighting 'safeguarding concerns' defamed two teachers
Employers who provide references about their staff must take reasonable care to ensure the information disclosed is true, accurate and...
01/03/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-03-01-15-31-42-952-63ff6fdef636ea1a2097c82d.jpg)
CBI Director-General speech highlights the importance of ESG strategies
This is an important speech from Tony Danker at the CBI which highlights how the labour market has changed forever and also why ESG is so...
01/03/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-03-01-12-55-30-913-63ff4b42f636ea1a209792f0.jpg)
Irwin Mitchell’s French Desk: providing a platform for international growth
It’s been a busy six months for our international team and boosted by the arrival in September of partner, Catherine Palmer, I’m...
01/03/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-28-22-47-26-729-63fe847ef636e91984eebe95.jpg)
As one consultation closes, another two open: Performance reviews, price rises, case law and yet another set of changes to PD Rights...
Sometimes, dealing with government consultations on planning reform feels a bit like fighting a Hydra. The ink is not yet dry on our...
01/03/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-28-10-54-15-108-63fddd57f636ea0744bfa2e4.jpg)
How likely are you to get the right candidate if your job advert requires someone prepared to 'live and breathe' the job?
Morale in schools and colleges is low. Many teachers and other staff have already gone on strike and, according to the National Education...
28/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-28-09-43-53-812-63fdccd9f636e90744e300b3.jpg)
The Pret Foundation: Expert advice for the hospitality sector
Pret A Manger has employed 250 Ukrainian refugees as part of its initiative set up to support those fleeing the conflict. The Pret...
28/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-28-09-28-38-148-63fdc946f636e910084d9057.jpg)
An introduction to… planning enforcement
If development is carried out without required planning permission, this is a breach of planning control. Likewise, failure to comply...
28/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-21-09-20-17-507-63f48cd1f636e908b4555ffb.jpg)
Tiger Woods: So-called 'banter' could put endorsement deals at risk
Tiger Woods is of course a sporting icon and never fails to attract the headlines – but it is not always for the right reasons. He was in...
21/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-20-19-04-29-052-63f3c43df636e91b005df08b.jpg)
India: Hedging, repo and stock lending update
Recent Indian legislation provides a legal framework for the recognition of close-out netting. Previously, the legal position was...
20/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-20-15-00-46-569-63f38b1ef636e91b005da440.jpg)
Watchdog upholds two complaints against Huel ruling adverts were misleading
In these straitened times, there is a strong temptation for manufacturers to use money saving tips and claims to promote their products....
20/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-16-11-37-14-758-63ee156af636ec1ab4974c3e.jpg)
Interest Rate Hedging - an introduction for borrowers and current market trends
The era of zero interest rate policies is over. We have grown accustomed to living in a low interest rate economy. Rates are still well...
16/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-16-10-00-40-867-63edfec8f636e9135474c0f7.jpg)
Protection of trees: what developers and landowners need to know
Our Protection of Trees webinar was hosted by Jill Crawford and Tracy Lovejoy from our Planning and Environment team on 9 February. In...
16/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-15-17-35-48-519-63ed17f4f636eb16e8e81348.jpg)
‘Skintellectuals’, ‘hybrid high streets’ and the ‘lipstick effect’
When Boots announces its predictions for the biggest trends in beauty retail for the coming year, I think it’s wise to sit up and take...
16/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-15-10-04-25-372-63ecae29f636ea1ab42de746.jpg)
How ‘real’ is ‘reality TV’: Clarkson, ‘Diddly Squat’, farm diversification and planning
Spoiler Alert - if you’ve not yet watched the series but plan to, don’t read this – I give the whole game away. I enjoyed the last series...
15/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-15-10-13-47-279-63ecb05bf636eb1fdcc17582.jpg)
NPPF Consultation 2022 – Housing
“Our house, in the middle of a self-build, key-worker neighbourhood community” Might the changes to housing be the radical reform long...
15/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-15-08-55-24-592-63ec9dfcf636e916e800ba5a.jpg)
LDC versus George Downing and European Sheeting Ltd
On 23 December 2022, the Technology and Construction Court released its most recent judgment in relation to cladding defects. It provided...
15/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-14-11-21-04-879-63eb6ea0f636ea126cc54913.jpg)
New proposals will give casual workers the right to ask for a predictable work contract
At the beginning of the year, I speculated that the long-promised right for insecure workers to ask to change their contract to reflect...
15/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-13-12-49-40-142-63ea31e4f636ea151443293e.jpg)
Cookies, consent and banner compliance: What organisations need to know about the EDPB's new best practice guidance
All businesses, organisations and sole traders who own a website or app using cookies will want to revisit their cookies compliance...
14/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-14-15-48-29-087-63ebad4df636ea142cc2a7c8.jpg)
Cyber Security: Staying secure in a digital age
The cost of cyber security in the UK was a staggering £3.1 billion in 2022 according to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. On a...
14/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/fit-in/400x400/filters:crop(0,25,612,342)/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-15-09-21-29-794-63eca419f636ea126cc6a00e.jpg)
What other employers can learn from McDonald's legal commitment to eliminate sexual harassment from its restaurants
McDonald's has acknowledged that it has a serious problem with workplace sexual harassment. It has reached a legal agreement with the...
14/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-14-11-51-35-952-63eb75c7f636ea126cc550b9.jpg)
Significant rise in pub and bar insolvencies
The latest statistics from UHY Hacker Young which reveal the financial difficulties faced by pubs and bars are disappointing and very...
14/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-14-09-28-32-231-63eb5440f636ea126cc52948.jpg)
Planning changes and the problem of slow build-outs
Among the many changes proposed to the planning system are changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (the ‘NPPF’). The changes...
14/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-14-06-08-22-618-63eb2556f636e9126c9acb93.jpg)
Mind the Funding Gap: The curious case of s.106 contributions funding NHS services
February seems to have been a month for fascinating planning cases. First, we had Mr Armstrong's one man mission to clarify the scope of...
14/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-13-12-47-32-140-63ea3164f636ea13a843c393.jpg)
Do you have to pay staff if you can't operate your business due to energy blackouts?
Last month, the government announced that it was going to scale back business energy subsidies for the next financial year by about 85%....
13/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-13-09-11-47-710-63e9fed3f636e913a8ce56fb.jpg)
Green efforts: a look at latest environmental updates and policies from the UK government
The current UK government’s environmental plan - “Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution” was announced in November 2020 by...
13/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-10-09-46-39-912-63e6127ff636e9100cea2885.png)
UK economy narrowly avoided recession
Although technically we’re not in a recession, the reality is that the wheels of the economy haven't turned effectively for a while....
10/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-08-10-27-28-511-63e37910f636ea1cd42a2cfb.jpg)
Cross border M&A activity into the UK remains strong despite Q4 blip
The appetite amongst overseas’ buyers to complete mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the UK fell in the last quarter of 2022 but was...
08/02/23![](https://images.passle.net/400x400/Passle/55fad6bcb00e7e097cd579a6/SearchServiceImages/2023-02-07-10-15-11-623-63e224aff636e90dfc38b10f.jpg)
Polishing the old crystal ball…
It is difficult to know what 2023 is going to bring. Let’s be honest, the predictions of would-be Nostradamuses in January 2022 would...
07/02/23