Big changes for Employers in 2024: New employment laws set for the upcoming year

You’ve heard of New Year, new me, but how about New Year, new employment laws?! There has been a recent surge in legislation that employers need to be aware of in the upcoming year and how it may impact them. Here Kalpesh Nakeshree, Head of Employment law provides 3 key updates to be mindful of: National Minimum Wage For the first time, the top rate of national minimum wage will apply to workers aged 21 and over from 01 April 2024 (currently it only applies to those aged 23 and over). The new top rate is set to be £11.44 which is an increase of 9.8% from 2023. Employers must ensure that the correct minimum wage payments are made or they will risk claims being made from staff which could result in significant…

An employer’s guide to taking grievances seriously

Dealing with employee grievances can sometimes seem like a thankless drain on a business’s management and resources. But a prompt investigation could uncover inappropriate behaviour or poor management that needs to be nipped in the bud, avoiding bigger problems down the line and reputational risk for the organisation. Employers must comply with the Acas Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures (the Code), which sets out the basic steps and principles for dealing with a grievance. ‘While this encourages employers to ‘have a quiet word’ or to use mediation where appropriate, investing time and resources in dealing with a grievance can pay off in the longer term,’ explains Kalpesh Nakeshree, Head of Employment Law with Ware & Kay. ‘An informal approach could backfire as the employee may feel their concerns have not been taken seriously…

Two Historic Names, One Great Legal Firm. Pearsons & Ward Solicitors changes its name to Ware & Kay

Pearsons & Ward Solicitors in Malton is pleased to announce it will change its name to Ware & Kay Solicitors on 1st April 2024.  Pearsons & Ward merged with Ware & Kay in 2015 having always shared a similar ethos and approach.  Following the merger Pearsons & Ward continued to retain its long historical name. However, after extensive consideration and consultation, it has been decided that the practices will now operate under the name Ware & Kay headed by David Hyams as Managing Director. The change in Malton is a key part of the firm’s strategy of uniting the firm behind the brand name of Ware & Kay. David Hyams said: “The primary driving force behind the name change was about the firm unifying itself under one name to enhance the client service and streamline…

How to keep your best staff happy in 2024

With the festive season over, so what better time to start showing appreciation to your team and spark a feeling of goodwill among your hard-working employees. A Christmas bonus and a party may go some way towards persuading them that you are an employer they want to stick with, but there is a lot of competition for good staff. What else can you do to retain first-class workers? Kalpesh Nakeshree, Head of Employment Law at Ware & Kay in York, Wetherby and Malton highlights the options. You can spend a lot of time, cash and energy finding and training up decent staff, and the last thing you want is to lose them just when they have properly got to grips with what you need them to do. It is important then, for bosses to proactively…

Christmas Farming Family Fall-Outs

Few things are more disconcerting than being told at Christmas, or any other time, that you don’t own something you think you do. In a farming context, this may cover a wide range of situations. For example, a dispute over whether farming assets are owned by an individual, or a farming partnership. In a succession situation, ownership disputes often relate to disputed inheritance of land. “To avoid misunderstandings, often created many decades ago, it is usually best to hold frank conversations, as early as possible, and, above all, write things down,” says Julie Bradwell. Associate in the Litigation Department at Ware & Kay in York, Wetherby & Malton. “The use of professionals particularly accountants, solicitors and others is very often invaluable in preventing later potentially catastrophic disputes amongst farming families”. However many people, even some solicitors…

Squatter’s rights: can you stop a squatter obtain ownership of your land?

If someone is occupying land that is registered to you, can they acquire rights over it and successfully apply to be registered as the owner? We are often asked this question by property owners where the boundaries between two properties on the ground do not match what is shown on the plans; sometimes this only becomes apparent where one of the property owners is looking to sell or develop and they then discover that there is an area of disputed land owned by one party but occupied by the neighbour (the squatter). There are two possible scenarios for registered land: the first is where ‘the squatter’ has been in uninterrupted ‘adverse possession’ of the disputed land for at least 12 years before 13 October 2003. This squatter can apply to be registered as proprietor and must…

Updated Acas guidance on sickness absence management

On average, each employee in the UK took off 5.7 days due to sickness in 2022, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics. The estimate of working days lost to UK employers due to sickness or injury reached a new high of 185.6 million in the year. ‘This follows a relatively stable period in the ten years up to the pandemic,’ says Kalpesh Nakeshree, Head of Employment law with Ware & Kay. ‘Sickness absence presents a host of problems for employers, including loss of productivity and increased pressure on colleagues who are covering for the absent employee. Sickness and absence need to be managed well or employers could be exposed to a number of claims such as for disability discrimination, unfair dismissal or personal injury.’ Acas recently updated their helpful guidance on…

Ware & Kay Christmas and New Year opening times

  We would like to send you our best wishes for the festive season and a safe and healthy 2024. We look forward to working with you and continuing to deliver the best possible service.  Christmas and New Year opening times  Our offices will be closed from 4.00pm on Friday 22nd December and will reopen at 9.00am on Tuesday 2nd January, 2024.  If you would like to contact us outside of these hours please use our “contact us” form and someone will get back to you on the next business working day.  Best wishes  The team at Ware & Kay

What is conveyancing?

Real estate transactions involve a complex legal process known as conveyancing. In this guide, we aim to shed light on the essential aspects of conveyancing. Should you have further inquiries or require personalised legal assistance, our team of experienced solicitors is ready to assist you. Call us today on 01904 716000 (York) or 01937 583210 (Wetherby) or 01653 692247 (Malton), or complete our online contact form. What is Conveyancing? Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership from one party to another. This comprehensive process involves several key steps to ensure a smooth and legally sound transfer. Below are the fundamental aspects of conveyancing. Pre-Contract Stage There are multiple steps early in the conveyancing process. This includes a Title Check, where your solicitor thoroughly checks the property's title to ensure that the seller has the legal right to sell. Your team will…

Ware & Kay and Pearsons & Ward strengthens Residential Property team with new appointment

Leading law firm Ware & Kay and Pearsons & Ward Solicitors (with offices in Malton, York & Wetherby) has appointed Heather Mackins as Associate and Head of Residential Property in its Malton office to meet the demand for its services. Heather will focus on advising clients on residential property matters including property sales and purchases for both freehold and leasehold property for registered and unregistered land. She also has extensive experience of dealing with right to buy, shared equity leases, help to buy mortgages, new build, re-mortgages, equity release and transfers of equity. She will also support clients buying and selling at auction, purchasing buy-to-lets and property registrations.  Heather’s expertise will ensure that clients receive the highest standard of legal advice and representation. Originally from Bamford in the Peak District, Heather arrives at Ware & Kay…