The government has published detailed new guidance for employers on the regulations and legal obligations relating to running internal workplace coronavirus (COVID-19) testing programmes, i.e. those which are outside of the NHS Test and Trace service. The guidance covers: legislation, regulations and best practice surrounding the testing process, including compliance with the GDPR selecting and

A reminder that home owners and landlords can now access funding to help pay for the cost of energy saving improvements. In a recent press release the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy said: Homeowners and landlords can, since Friday 28 August, see for themselves how the government’s new Green Homes Grant scheme can

New grant support was announced 9 September that offers businesses in areas subject to a local lockdown a measure of financial support. In a news story posted to the GOV.UK website HM Treasury said: Businesses in England required to close due to local lockdowns or targeted restrictions will now be able to receive grants worth up

The process of choosing a video conference solution for your practice can be a little hit and miss due to the variety of solutions on offer. Practitioners have adopted the use of web conferencing to: Deal with staff matters Organise client meetings Organise partners’ meetings In fact, much of the activity previously undertaken face to

The Statutory Sick Pay (General) (Coronavirus Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 2020 came into force on 26 August 2020. The regulations have amended the Statutory Sick Pay (General) Regulations 1982 to provide that an employee is entitled to statutory sick pay (SSP) if they have been notified in writing that they are to undergo a surgical

The consultation opened by HMRC 19 March 2020, to consider standards in the tax advice market, was closed for further representations 28 August 2020. The consultation covered a call for evidence on the following policy issues: the scope of the market for tax advice and services the characteristics of good and bad practice current government

The government has published two factsheets on redundancy, one for employers and one for employees.  The fact sheet for employers provides guidance on the support and information available to them from the government’s free “Rapid Response Service”. It advises employers to get in touch as soon as employees are at risk of redundancy, as it

As of 16 August 2020, published Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) data shows that 9.6m jobs were furloughed, 1.2m employers were furloughing staff and £35.4bn had been claimed. These are astonishing statistics. Unemployment currently stands at just under 3m. It is a sobering thought that when the CJRS is finally withdrawn at the end of

The government has published two new guidance documents for employers relating to recruitment. The first guidance document provides information for employers who will be recruiting, and the content includes: sources of information and support, e.g. Jobcentre Plus, Access to Work and the “Advertise a job” service remote interviewing – tips for virtual recruiting and onboarding

Public Health England (PHE) has updated its guidance to increase the minimum self-isolation period for those with symptoms of coronavirus from seven to ten days, starting from when symptoms first begin. In addition, those who test positive for coronavirus but who are not experiencing symptoms must stay at home for at least ten days starting