Reprieve For Care Sector After Verdict On Workers Who Sleep In

The financial pressures on the care sector are never out of the news for long. However, employers providing round-the-clock supervision or care to the elderly and infirm, vulnerable adults and young people are breathing a sigh of relief following a recent judgment on entitlement to the national minimum wage. Gillian Reid, employment law expert with Ware & Kay Solicitors in York, Wetherby & Malton , explains that most workers who sleep during a 'sleep-in' shift are not entitled to the national minimum wage while asleep. Why is this significant? Employers in the care sector may need staff such as nurses and care assistants at night to be awake and active on the job as if it were a day shift.  This is known as working a 'waking night'.  Depending on the staffing requirements, employers may…

Ware & Kay Raise Money For The Homeless By Sleeping Out

A team of 13 volunteers representing Ware & Kay Solicitors (with offices in York, Wetherby & Malton) raised £1,500 for homeless organisation Kitchen for Everyone York by sleeping out. Kitchen for Everyone York was originally set up in November 2015 to fill a gap in services providing food for the homeless, vulnerable and socially excluded from York. With over 100 volunteers this charity has now grown to include 2 sessions providing meals and an outreach programme when teams hand out hot drinks and snacks to people on the streets. This small non-profit organisation relies solely on volunteers and donations. Helen Rawling, Team Leader commented "The facilities at the Spurriergate centre provide a safe, warm environment twice weekly to not only receive a meal but any other essential items such as sleeping bags and toiletries along…

New Appointment At Ware & Kay As It Continues To Expand

Yorkshire Law firm Ware & Kay has appointed Simon Ellis to its rapidly expanding Commercial Department as a Commercial Property Solicitor to be based at their Wetherby office.  His appointment is a further addition to the firm's expertise in this sector. Simon will advise on a wide range of commercial property matters.  This will include advising clients who wish to buy and sell commercial properties and businesses, acting for landlords and tenants in the grant or renewal of leases and assisting with transactions involving the development of land or properties.   Simon also has extensive experience in Health & Safety matters. Originally from Stokesley, Simon arrives at Ware & Kay with over 16 years' experience in the legal sector.  He graduated from Cardiff University and studied at Chester College of Law before qualifying as a Solicitor…

Ware & Kay To Sleep Out To Support The Homeless

On Friday 22nd June 13 members of staff from Ware & Kay Solicitors (York, Wetherby & Malton offices) will be putting themselves in the shoes of the homeless when they spend the night sleeping in cardboard boxes in the York office car park to raise money for Kitchen for Everyone York #KEY. Kitchen for Everyone York is a small local organisation in Spurriergate which works to support the homeless by providing meals and outreach programmes and opens its doors to thousands of vulnerable people in York.  The organisation has experienced a substantial increase in the numbers of people asking for their help which is why Ware & Kay are keen to help raise money. Holly Stevens, Residential Property Solicitor at Ware & Kay Solicitors, said: "We will be putting ourselves in the shoes of those who…

Top Tips For Employee References

References are a delicate area for employers; you want to be helpful to staff by providing references for them but you do not want to be held liable if you get it wrong.  Gillian Reid, employment law solicitor at Ware & Kay in York, Wetherby & Malton clarifies whether you have to give a reference, your liability as an employer, what you can and cannot say and what to do when requesting a reference. Do you have to provide a reference? There is no legal obligation to provide a reference unless an employee's contract of employment states that they are entitled to one or the employee is employed in a regulated industry, such as the financial services sector.  You can refuse, but a refusal could be seen as discrimination if you normally give references and…

Settlement Agreement Lawyers' Guide - Using Settlement Agreements To Resolve Employment Issues

Settlement agreements are legally binding contracts in which one person, usually an employee, agrees to waive their rights to bring a claim in the employment tribunal or a court in return for another person, typically their employer, agreeing to do something, such as paying them a sum of money and agreeing to give them a reference. As Kalpesh Nakeshree, employment lawyer at Ware & Kay in York, Wetherby & Malton explains, used properly settlement agreements can be an effective tool for dealing with workplace problems in a discrete and controlled way: 'If you have an issue with an employee or someone else who works for you, negotiating a mutually acceptable resolution is often the best way to deal with things.  Recording the terms of that resolution in a settlement agreement ensures there can be no…

Ware & Kay Solicitors Strengthens Residential Property Team

York - 8th May, 2018 Leading local law firm, Ware & Kay Solicitors, has expanded its residential property team with the appointment of William Baggaley who has joined the team as a Residential Property Solicitor. Originally from Leeds, William arrives at Ware & Kay with over 7 years' experience in Property Law.  He studied at Staffordshire University Law School before qualifying as a Solicitor in 2002 and starting his career in Leeds.  With a breadth of experience across the full residential property spectrum, William has represented a number of high profile clients and is extremely well-regarded within the industry. William specialises in all areas of buying & selling property from the straight forward to the more complicated, including shared ownership, new build, high value transactions, unregistered properties, remortgages and equity release mortgages, Deeds of Gift…

Make A Will During May

Leave your legacy to help us continue ours. If, like many other people you have been putting off writing your Will, this is your chance to put that right. Ware & Kay Solicitors has teamed up with Martin House to give you the opportunity to have your basic Will written for just £60 or £110 (inc. VAT) for a pair of basic matching (mirror) Wills - a considerable discount on their usual price. Legacies are vitally important to Martin House. In fact, they make up more than a quarter of our entire voluntary income, meaning the cost of caring for one in four of our children is covered by gifts left in Wills. Over half of UK adults have not made a Will. It's not always easy to think about what might happen when…

Ware & Kay Solicitors Supports Wetherby Rugby Union Club

As part of Ware & Kay Solicitors' involvement in community activities the firm are supporting Wetherby Rugby Union Club by hosting a corporate event on Saturday 2nd April for clients and professionals. Ware & Kay have enjoyed a strong working relationship with Wetherby Rugby Club.  They have also shown their commitment over the years in several ways and are now providing match-day sponsorship. Wetherby Rugby Club, which is due to play against Thornensians from Doncaster, has not been beaten in any competition since February 2014.  In real terms over 50 matches unbeaten.  They were promoted from Yorks Div 4 to Yorks Div 3 in season 2014-2015 and they are  currently top of Yorks Div 3, looking to earn promotion to Yorks Div 2 within the next two or three weeks.  This match may even see…

Planning Ahead With Wills And Lasting Powers Of Attorney

Planning ahead is the key to making life for you and your loved ones as easy as possible; this should include thinking about making a Will and Lasting Powers of Attorney. Making a Will There are many reasons to make a Will, including: To avoid the intestacy rules (which provide for certain relatives to benefit when someone dies without a Will) - for example, to benefit an unmarried partner; To make sure your personal belongings go to the people you choose; To appoint guardians for minor children; To leave a gift to a charity; Inheritance tax planning.   Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) LPAs let you appoint people you know and trust to make decisions on your behalf and enables you to give guidance to those people on how decisions affecting you should…