News and Knowledge

Leeds Pride 2024: LGBTQ+ Legal Rights Explained

Sunday marks the day of Leeds Pride, which celebrates all things LGBTQ+ in our city centre.   Colourful acts, drag, and live music will take to the streets to commemorate love, equality and friendship for all. Gay Pride has been celebrated for decades, to remember the Stonewall Riots, which took place in 1969. The riots,…

Employment changes proposed under new Labour government

After the general election earlier this month, workers and business owners should prepare themselves for a host of new changes that are expected to come into force under the new Labour government.   Before the election, Labour outlined several changes to employment law, stating that ‘Labour’s plan will make work pay’. They said this would…

Carer’s Week 2024: Legal rights for carers explained

Carer’s Week is here to highlight the challenges unpaid carers face every day and recognise the contribution they make to family, friends and society.   Statistics show there are more than 7 million carers in the UK today, who look after family or friends who have a mental or physical disability or illness, addiction, or…

Whitefield School: Staff members filmed ‘abusing’ children at special school

Staff members at a special school in London were filmed abusing children in so-called ‘calming rooms’,  but have still not been barred from working with children, a BBC investigation has found.   The abhorrent abuse was discovered when 44 memory sticks containing CCTV footage of classrooms were found in a sealed box, when new leadership…

Tata steelworkers vote for industrial action over plans to close blast furnaces

Around 1,500 Tata steelworkers based in Port Talbot and Newport Llanwern have voted decisively for industrial action over the company’s plan to close its blast furnaces and shed 2,800 jobs.   The ballot for strike action by members of Unite, the UK’s leading union, closed today with workers voting in favour of industrial action over…

Four major changes to employment law this month

Major changes have been made to employment law this week in a bid to give workers more control over their working hours, more protection when they’re pregnant and more flexibility for workers caring for a dependent.   The government has said the new changes coincide with their ‘Back to Work Plan’ to help people find,…

Autism Awareness Month: What it is & why we should celebrate

Autism Awareness Month is here to raise awareness and promote the acceptance of people with autism. In society today, there are many misconceptions about autism, and this month is dedicated to debunking myths and promoting inclusion.   It is thought that autism affects around 700,000 children and adults in the UK. But many societal barriers…

New Paternity Leave rules for dads to come into effect

New paternity leave rules will come into force from next month to give new dads more flexibility and a slight pay rise, the government has announced.   The changes will mean that new fathers can take their statutory two-week leave in separate one-week chunks, instead of having to take it as two consecutive weeks, as…

Employment Tribunal compensation to increase from April

Employees may be entitled to more compensation at employment tribunals from April as the government has announced an increase in limits.   Employment tribunals take place when a dispute has taken place between an employee and an employer, usually regarding redundancies, unfair dismissals and equal pay. Employment Tribunals are the judicial body with responsibility for…

People in their 20s more likely to be off work due to health than those in their 40s – Study

A new study has found that people in their early 20s are more likely to not work due to poor health than those in their 40s.   The report, published by Resolution Foundation shows that the figures are “radically different” from the past, where the older you got, the more likely you were to not…