A recent report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the UCL Institute of Education[1] found that working mothers have been able to do one hour of uninterrupted paid work for every three hours done by men during the pandemic lockdown. This seems to be on the assumption that mothers typically perform a larger share […]

By Sharokh Koussari & Naylah Hamour, Partners at DWFM Beckman. ([email protected] & [email protected]) Businesses are increasingly fearful of the very difficult economic landscape that the Coronavirus has left in its wake. The length and breadth of the country, High Streets are bare, holidays cancelled and restaurants, cafés and pubs lie empty. Despite the UK Government’s […]

In the wake of the Coronavirus, the Queen gave Royal Assent to the Coronavirus Bill on 25 March 2020, creating the Coronavirus Act 2020 with immediate effect. How this impacts on landlords and tenants Landlords will now need to serve 3 months’ notice if they wish to seek possession from assured shorthold tenants.  This is […]

With one and a half million high-risk patients being told to stay home for 12 weeks and many other healthy individuals self-isolating, now may be a good time to set up the powers of attorney that you have been putting off doing. Certainly in 2020 we can run our lives from home in ways that […]

The House of Commons Public Bill Committee has proposed an amendment to the Coronavirus Bill in the form of “Statutory Self-Employment Pay”. This amendment would require the government to introduce regulations guaranteeing “freelancers” and “self-employed people” earnings of: (a)  80% of their monthly net earnings, averaged over the last three years; or, (b)  £2,917 per […]

On Friday 20th March 2020, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced unprecedented financial measures to support UK businesses affected by Covid-19.   The concept of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme was introduced to reimburse employers for up to 80% of the wages of employees where there is no work for them as a result of the coronavirus […]

A ‘need to know’ guide for the workplace By Sharokh Koussari & Naylah Hamour, Partners at DWFM Beckman. (Sharokh.Koussari @dwfmbeckman.com & [email protected]) This article answers some questions which employers and employees may have regarding the ongoing global outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), with the aim of complying with legal obligations and maintaining business continuity. The […]

As the UK’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak is constantly changing, I wanted to reassure our clients and associates in business, of the steps that we are taking to deal with this crisis.  It is no longer business as we usually know it but DWFM Beckman is geared up to continue to operate. Our priorities […]

Our last article on the coronavirus centred around sick leave and the prospect of at home working in the wake of the outbreak. With the delay phase of the virus now being entered, remote working is fast becoming a reality for most employers and their workforce. Whilst the Prime Minister has stopped short of enforcing […]

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on 26th February 2020 that staff who are asked to self-isolate on medical advice are entitled to take time off work as sick leave.  He told MPs that this is considered to be sickness for employment purposes.  This is an important message for employers at a time when the Government […]