EasyJet Reveals Data Breach of up to 9 Million Customers
EasyJet has revealed that a recent cyber-attack has resulted in the personal information of 9 million of its customers being accessed. Additionally, 2,208 of the 9 million customers affected have had their credit card details stolen. Read more
Q&A – Expiring Driving Licences to be Automatically Extended
- What is happening?
Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has announced that arrangements are to be put in place in the coming days for expiring driving licences to be automatically extended. Any licence due to expire between 1st February and 31st August 2020 will be extended for a further seven months. Read more
COVID-19: Car Insurance and MOT
There have been various welcome financial reliefs introduced since the Covid 19 upheaval took effect. The FCA recently published updated guidance for insurance firms on how the industry should accommodate customers who are struggling with payments at the moment. Read more
IS YOUR BUSINESS READY TO REOPEN POST LOCKDOWN?
The NI Executive issued its 5-stage recovery plan on 12th May 2020, setting out the various stages for easing the lockdown restrictions. As businesses start to re-open in line with the plan, it is important that employers implement and adhere to health and safety guidelines to protect the well-being of all employees. Read more
RETURNING TO WORK AFTER COVID-19
The Government is currently preparing a plan to what life is going to look like after the COVID-19 lockdown is lifted and we return to some form of normality. It seems certain that life will continue to look very different to a few months ago and employers need to prepare for what the future is going to look like. Read more
Can I make a Will during Lockdown?
The restrictions imposed as a result of the lockdown have been unprecedented and, due to social distancing, the provision of legal services have been significantly affected.
One area of law that has received recent exposure in the wider media, due to the effects of Covid-19, is that of making of a will. Read more
FAQs – MATERNITY RIGHTS DURING COVID-19
If you are pregnant or currently on maternity leave the current coronavirus pandemic is sure to have caused extra worry from both a health and financial prospective. This article deals with a number of the most common concerns regarding pregnancy rights and maternity rights during this time. Read more
Cyber-bullying and Covid-19
The world is presently in lockdown in an attempt to stem the spread of Coronavirus. We are concerned for our immediate family, friends and colleagues. We have seen weekly appreciation for those NHS workers and people in the front line caring for sick people. Read more
FURLOUGHED WORKERS – AN UPDATE
The Government has provided updated guidance on furloughed workers which has helped clarify some issues. Below is a summary of the important issues:
- What can employers claim for in relation to wages?
Employers can apply for a grant that covers 80% of their usual monthly wage costs, up to £2,500 a month, plus the associated Employer National Insurance contributions and minimum automatic enrolment employer pension contributions on that wage. Read more
Covid 19 – Business Tenancies in Northern Ireland
In well-drawn commercial leases there is invariably provision that the landlord may bring proceedings for re-entry of the premises and termination of the lease if the rent is in arrears or the tenant is in breach of its obligations. Read more
PSNI Announce Reduction in Detected Motor Offences
The PSNI’s annual Motoring Offences Statistics have recorded a 13% decrease in detected offences during 2019. In 2019 there were 47,065 detections, down from 53,911 in 2018.
16% of the detections were for speeding offences, with the highest speed recorded at 135mph on the A1 dual carriageway, where the speed limit is 70mph. Read more
Leave to appeal AND Cross-Appeal Northern Ireland Court of Appeal to Supreme Court in ‘Unpaid Holiday Leave’ case
In June 2019 our Employment Department secured a landmark result at the Court of Appeal, having successfully challenged an appeal against an important Employment Tribunal decision which held that unlawful deductions from holiday pay entitlements are in breach of fundamental rights protected under EU Law. Read more
Furloughed workers – Q & A
On 20 March 2020, the Chancellor announced the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. At that time the workings of the Scheme were unclear, but the government has since provided further guidance. In this article our employment partner, John McShane, provides clarity on some of the key points. Read more
Business Interruption Insurance – are you covered?
On Monday 23rd March 2020 the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced that all non-essential businesses should close their doors in a bid to fight the spread of Covid-19. This has led to business owners reviewing their insurance policies to assess whether or not they will be able to make a claim on their policies as a result of this interruption to their business. Read more
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – Podcast
MTB Solicitors are very proud to be the appointed solicitors of Hospitality Ulster.
At this time, the hospitality industry is in crisis. It is hoped that the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will assist members of Hospitality Ulster, as well as other industries. Read more
COVID-19 and the impact on children with separated parents.
For the majority of separated parents with children there is an arrangement in place which deals with how they have contact with their children. On occasion there is co-parenting where the time is split evenly but, for the most part, there will be a primary carer with whom the children live for most of the time and a non-resident carer who they see less frequently. Read more
Furloughed Workers
On 20th of March 2020 the Chancellor set out a package of temporary, timely and targeted measures to support public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19. In it, he announced that affected employees could now be designated as “furloughed workers”, meaning that if an employer cannot cover staff costs due to Covid-19 the employer can access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Read more
Working from Home / Self Isolation – 5 top tips!
- This is not a holiday ..…. No lie ins. Keep a good routine. Get out of bed, shower, dress and start work at your normal time.
- Have a dedicated work space as far as is practical.
MOT Exemption certificates likely to be extended
The BBC reported last week that temporary MOT exemption certificates are “very likely” to be extended to six months. Current exemption certificates cover drivers for four months.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-51735562
Whilst this will be of some comfort to those vehicle owners caught in this exceptional situation. Read more
Collapse of Flybe
The media has widely reported on the collapse of the airline Flybe into administration and that it has cancelled all flights. This has been devastating to Northern Ireland given that 80% of the flights in and out of George Best, Belfast City Airport were Flybe flights. Read more
