Changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme changed again from 1 September 2020 in line with previous government announcements.From 1 September, the government will pay 70% of wages up to a maximum cap of £2,187.50 for the hours the employee is on furlough. Employers will top up employees’ wages to ensure they receive 80% (up to £2,500). The caps are proportional to the hours not worked.Further reductions to the government contribution will come into effect from 1 October 2020 with the Scheme coming to an end on 31 October 2020.If you are an Employer or Employee and you would like further guidance or advice on your rights and responsibilities under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, returning to work or reorganisation, please do not hesitate to our experienced Employment team on 01904 716000 or email gillian.reid@warekay.co.uk who will be happy to assist.

Agreeing time with your children following separation

A separation will inevitably mean a change in the family dynamic, and you may be concerned about what this will mean for your relationship with your children.  New arrangements will have to be put in place in relation to where the children will reside, and what time they will spend with each parent. ‘There are no hard and fast rules about what time the children should spend with each parent,’ explains Robert Bellhouse family law expert at Ware & Kay in York. ‘Our laws are alive to the fact that each family is unique, and a number of factors need to be taken into account when deciding a child’s future living arrangements.  The starting point is to look at the welfare checklist’. The welfare checklist If a dispute over arrangements for children goes to court, the…

Coronavirus - the importance of Wills and current challenges

Since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown, we have been contacted by many people wanting to ensure they have Wills in place or to update existing Wills. This has no doubt been prompted partly by the natural fear of serious illness in the current climate, but also many people have found they have had the time to think about what they would like to happen in the event of their death. For many people making a Will in normal circumstances is a task that is easily put off. In the past few weeks, we have seen a significant increase in people seeking our advice on Wills.  We would like to assure you that our offices are open for business and we can meet people in a COVID safe environment. However, for some older or vulnerable people…

The importance of Wills for farming families: safeguarding the future of your farm

“Keep Safe” is a phrase we have heard frequently in the past few months – whilst we all need to take heed – don’t forget the importance of keeping your farm or property safe too. It is not unusual to have more than one generation of a family working on a farm and if the owner has not left clear instructions about who is to inherit the estate there is huge potential for dispute.   ‘With the increase in land prices over the years, farm assets may be worth literally millions of pounds and the consequences of a family member dying intestate without a Will can be disastrous’ says Laura Carter, Wills & Probate Solicitor. Making a Will is particularly important in farming families where some members want to farm and others do not or cannot…

Love knows no boundaries, but divorce must consider them

If you are considering divorce and have ties to more than one country, then where you issue your proceedings can impact the outcome.  These types of divorce are commonly known as cross-border, and typically we think of countries outside the United Kingdom. But a recent judgment in the Supreme Court has highlighted that even the borders within our shores can affect the outcome in the agreement of maintenance after divorce. ‘Local differences in divorce law mean that there may be benefits to issuing divorce and maintenance proceedings in one area of the UK over another, as highlighted in the case of Villiers v Villiers [2020]’ says Robert Bellhouse, a Family Solicitor in the family team with Ware & Kay Solicitors. ‘This case showed that, provided certain thresholds are met, the courts will permit choice in which…

Release of lockdown and returning employees to the workplace

Following changes in government guidance, more and more employers are asking staff to come back to the workplace. But what are your obligations as an employer if staff are reluctant or unwilling to return? How should you treat employees who are shielding, pregnant or struggling with childcare? The HSE’s guidance on Working safely during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak and the Government’s sector-specific guides on working safely during coronavirus (Covid-19) are crucial sources of information.  ‘However, the Government guidance does not provide the full picture for employers who must consider the whole gamut of their duties under employment law.’ Says Gillian Reid, Head of Employment with Ware & Kay in York & Wetherby, who outlines the raft of legal responsibilities, as well as highlighting key steps to reduce the risks of claims and considerations for particular groups…

Coronavirus and mortgages, your questions answered

As lockdown restrictions ease and people want to take advantage of the stamp duty holiday, we are seeing more activity in the housing market. However, there is still a lot of uncertainty, particularly over mortgage availability. On the one hand, interest rates are at an all-time low. On the other, lenders have reduced the number and range of mortgages they offer. If you are thinking about moving home or remortgaging, you may be wondering how this could affect you. Here Holly Stevens, Head of Residential Property with Ware & Kay in York, cuts through the confusion and answers some of your questions. As a first-time buyer, will I still be able to get a mortgage? Since the pandemic, lenders have generally become more cautious and risk-averse. Most have now withdrawn their low deposit mortgage deals from…

We are open for business & here to help

Our York & Wetherby offices are open for business and here to help.  Please contact us by phone or email and we will happily arrange an appointment on the telephone or at our offices if necessary to discuss your matter. 

Your commercial property portfolio – time to restructure?

A commercial property portfolio is just like any other investment - to get the best out of it, you need to manage it well, and sometimes it will benefit from being restructured. The unforeseen impact of Covid-19 on the whole of the UK economy has underlined the importance of keeping on top of your property investments, so you are able to move quickly when you want to grab an opportunity or mitigate risk. A good commercial property lawyer will get to know your property portfolio as well as you do.  The more closely we are involved, the more we can do to help you plan your strategy and head off problems before they arise. Careful planning and regular reviews of your property investments will give you the best chance both to prosper in good times and…

Release of lockdown: continuing or ending homeworking

Although lockdown is easing, government guidance advises people to continue to work from home if possible.  Meanwhile, the media is reporting that some employers are deciding to keep staff working from home. Homeworking has advantages; it eases the immediate difficulties of making workplaces COVID-secure and, longer-term, it can significantly reduce the overheads for a business. Employers bringing staff back to the workplace may wish to take stock of recent homeworking arrangements in preparation for any second spike in coronavirus or a localised lockdown. Gillian Reid explains how to get homeworking arrangements in order and looks at particular challenges for managers of remote teams, as well as how to deal with an employee who has had enough of homeworking. Employers ending homeworking arrangements may face a wave of flexible working requests. You should check the Government website…