Is your Child's School on Strike?

It is highly likely that a large number of schools will be on strike on Thursday 30/6/11 and on subsequent days because of the dispute between the public service unions and the government over the proposed changes to pension rights.

What is the situation when you have to take time off work because your child cannot attend school? Generally speaking any time taken off work without the employer’s explicit permission would be a breach of contract and may lead to some form disciplinary action.

However, the last government’s introduction of “family friendly policies” at work means the situation is covered under section 57A Employment Rights Act 1996 which allows employees to take a reasonable amount of time to deal with unexpected disruption of childcare arrangements in particular during a period when a school would normally have responsibility for that child.

Unfortunately for employers any disruption caused by the employee’s absence is irrelevant in determining whether the employee’s circumstances trigger this right. The employee must inform the employer as soon as possible about the reason for the absence and how long they would expect a period of absence to last. The situation regarding the strikes this week is to some extent fluid, although parents should have been informed by now whether the school will be closed or not.

It should be stressed that any time off allowed by the employer does not have to be paid.

If any employer requires advice on how to deal with this situation or if any employee suffer a detriment because of taking time off then they should not hesitate to contact the employment department lawyers at Hanne & Co on 020 7228 0017 or by email to Harry Dronfield at harryd@hanne.co.uk or David Taylor at dxt@hanne.co.uk

Hanne & Co Solicitors Re-Launch

Hanne & Co celebrated its re-launch at a private function in the Slug and Lettuce in Clapham Junction on Tuesday 21st June 2011. Members of the judiciary, other legal professionals and most importantly local businesses and charities attended the event. Representatives from all our departments, Family Law, Conveyancing, Child Care Law, Wills Probate and Trusts, Criminal Law and Employment Law were there to promote the firm and catch up with old friends and related professionals.

The evening was a roaring success and a fantastic way for local businesses to celebrate the re-launch as well as network with each other. Hanne & Co, with the generosity of its guests, raised funds for their nominated Charity, Wandsworth Bereavement.

Despite the fact that we have been in the heart of Clapham Junction for decades, we are sometimes easy to miss. Whilst we are on the main junction, we occupy the upper floors of a property with no street presence so it was great to meet local business people and point out exactly where we are. Of course, we chose the Slug and Lettuce as the venue as we are directly opposite.

A lot has changed in the world since Hanne & Co opened its doors back in 1898. But there are two challenges which businesses faced back then which are just as relevant today; tough economic conditions, and uncertainty over changing employment legislation. With the coalition announcing a review of employment laws, Hanne and Co are offering a helping hand to local businesses as part of their re-launch celebration; a free employment law “health check” to all the businesses invited. Given the success of this promotion, Hanne & Co is extending the offer until the end of August 2011. Simply contact Harry Dronfield, who is a solicitor in the Employment Law department of Hanne & Co by e-mail harryd@hanne.co.uk for further information or to book an appointment.

A Safe Place for Your Will?

In the wills, probate and trusts department at Hanne & Co, we are enjoying the latest EastEnders story line as much as you. Janine’s granny dispatches Janine to granny’s chest of drawers for granny’s biscuit tin and treasured letters. Beneath them lies granny’s will. Janine glances at it long enough to see granny’s left everything to charity (don’t we wish we could read wills that fast?). Janine realises it doesn’t matter that she doesn’t get a bean and that she loves granny whom she’s been bad mouthing oh so recently. 

By dawn granny has died. The body is scarcely cold before Pat Butcher weighs in with a charge of murder. It may be that Janine needs a criminal solicitor and as you know, having won the Legal Aid Lifetime Achievement award, our criminal team are experts in their field.

But will there be any consequences to granny’s keeping her will in her chest of drawers? Why did she keep it where anyone could read it and where they could easily have torn it up after her death if they didn’t like what it said? Is the charity going to get the million or so granny is said to be worth? We await the unfolding of the plot with baited breath. In the interim, if you are in need of advice on wills, probate or trusts, Hanne & Co’s private client department are currently offering some very competitive rates. Please speak to staff at our office opposite Clapham Junction station.

Don’t store your will at home, at least not in your chest of drawers. It may get mislaid, overlooked or deliberately destroyed. Hanne & Co offer free storage of wills. Come to us and we’ll happily look after your will for you. Our experienced probate solicitors understand the importance of your last wishes. As founder members of Certainty, the National Will Register and Will search service, we are able to register the fact we hold your will here, helping to make it all the less likely your wishes are ignored after your death.

If you need any advice on wills, probate and trusts, or you would like to contest a will or make a claim if you feel you have not been fairly provided for then please contact us (this is known as an Inheritance Act Claim). We have a number of experienced probate solicitors ready to advise you on matters of any complexity. 

To make an appointment with our Wills department, please follow the directions to our office in Clapham Junction. Our office is very accessible via National Rail and bus routes running through Wandsworth, Battersea, Surbiton, Kingston and the surrounding boroughs of London.

Please contact us by email on info@hanne.co.uk or by calling 020 7228 0017.