Hot drink next to a bed

Holiday, sickness, and other leave: updated Acas guidance and tools.

Managing holiday entitlement, sickness absence, and other leave can be a complex business. It can also prove costly when employers get it wrong. Acas (an independent public body whose role includes helping to improve workplace relationships) have improved their online resources to help employers to do this well. New and updated resources include a useful … Read more …

Woman sitting at a desk facing a computer monitor

Legislation passed amending flexible working rights

After 26 weeks’ employment, employees have the right to request flexible working, for example asking to change their working days, hours or place of work. Parliament has just passed the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023.  When it comes into force (which could be no later than August 2024) it will make various changes to … Read more …

Padlock and SIM cards on keyboard

New guidance for employers on Subject Access Requests

The right of access, commonly referred to as a Subject Access Request, or SAR, gives individuals the right to request a copy of their personal data from organisations. Last month the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) published new guidance for employers on responding to SARs. The new guidance is published in question and answer format, referring … Read more …

Man signing a contract when buying a new house

Disposing of charity land – changes to requirements

Charities must comply with certain legal requirements before they ‘dispose’ of land they own (whether that be selling, transferring, or leasing land). It is therefore important that churches and other Christian charities know their obligations. The Charities Act 2022 As we have reported on in an earlier article, the Charities Act 2022 introduces a raft … Read more …

What will Martyn’s Law mean for churches and Christian ministries?

Until now protective security at UK venues has been entirely voluntary. ‘Martyn’s Law’ will change this, bringing in legal requirements for many venues – including churches – to ensure public safety on their premises. Background Following the Manchester Arena bombing attack in 2017, Martyn’s Law aims at preventing such acts of terrorism. While clearly having … Read more …

Thinking biblically about equality, diversity and inclusion

If we needed it proving at all, the pandemic lockdowns showed us afresh that there is nothing quite like getting together in person. We ensure that as a firm we all get together in person at least twice a year for training, discussion, and good old-fashioned human interaction!   Our most recent staff day at the … Read more …

Managing work related stress

“And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” 2 Corinthians 11:28 (ESV) Stress and anxiety were well known to the writers of our Bible, and we can thankfully gain comfort and wisdom from its words on the subject. Characteristically, Jesus invited “all who labour … Read more …

Charity names

We hope you have found our article on the new Charities Act useful. As explained towards the end of last year in our November newsletter, the first wave of changes being introduced by the new legislation came into force at the end of October 2022. The next wave of changes is due to be introduced … Read more …

What are a charity’s reporting obligations to the Charity Commission?

A charity’s reporting and accounting obligations to the Charity Commission will depend on a number of factors including whether the charity is exempt or excepted from registration, whether the charity is a company, the charity’s gross annual income, and the value of the charity’s assets.  (Note that this Article only deals with a charity’s obligations … Read more …