Have you ever been laid off or denied a job, promotion, or equal job treatment for a reason other than your qualifications or performance?

Sometimes it’s unclear whether you’ve been discriminated against, but suspicion of unequal workplace treatment means you may be a victim of employment discrimination. Your employment rights are protected by the law, and the first step toward combating employment discrimination is understanding which types of workplace discrimination are illegal.

What is employment discrimination?

When two equally-qualified employees or job applicants receive different treatment based on law-protected factors (such as civil rights), employment discrimination has happened. Illegal discrimination may take place during the hiring and termination processes, and it can also affect compensation, promotion, discipline, and job assignment.… Continue reading »

The UK economy has been rocked by a number of large-scale problems in the past few years and the aftershock has rippled through many an industry, business and home. The jobs market has been unavoidably affected by the country’s economic woes, with the recession driving more people away from the labour market and into entrepreneurial territory.

Research from the University of Strathclyde recently revealed that the jump in total early-stage entrepreneurial activity (TEA) in Scotland means the country now matches the average for 20 innovation-driven economies.

Small businesses: considerations to make

Starting a small business is becoming a popular option in a labour market that is increasingly difficult to break into and record numbers of new companies are being born countrywide.… Continue reading »

When the merger of Britvic and A.G. Barr was announced late last year it looked set to create one of the biggest drinks companies in Europe. However the deal seems to have run into some difficulties and has been referred to the anti-trust watchdog due to concerns over competition laws.

In the meantime Britvic has revealed the merger of their own British and Irish arms, which will result in a major reshuffling, loss of jobs and a projected saving of £30 million by 2016. Such a move has cast some doubt on the merger between Britvic and Barr. Great news for both parties, as their merger has provisionally cleared about a week ago.… Continue reading »

What does Sir Paul McCartney have in common with Imagination Technologies, one of the UK’s largest suppliers of chip technology to smartphone manufacturers across the globe? Similarly, what problem does the Ian Fleming estate share with luxury clothing manufacturer, Burberry?

The answer, of course, is that all four are examples of individuals or organisations who hold intellectual property (IP) and other rights which are licensed out to third parties around the world in exchange for royalty income. Outside observers might conclude that this is the sort of problem they would quite like to have but it is no joke when you have to rely on licensees paying you what you think they owe you.… Continue reading »

If a business is having severe financial difficulties and is struggling to pay debts and keep up with its obligations it may be insolvent or otherwise nearing insolvency.

Insolvency is something that many companies face every year, particularly in the current, tough economic climate and the temptation can be to simply ignore the problem. Some business owners may not even realise that they are insolvent or the implications to their business. It is highly recommended that business owners immediately seek insolvency advice when faced with the prospect of insolvency. … Continue reading »

The bottom line is this: Continuing to trade whilst insolvent is illegal!

If you’re a writer completing assignments on a freelance basis, it can be difficult to know how best to operate. When it comes to handling contracts and money, it’s unlikely this is your area of expertise and it can be extremely daunting.

Fortunately, I have come across a couple of options that can help to maximise the amount of money you make and minimise the effort involved with sorting out your own admin, leaving you free to concentrate on your writing.

Set up a limited company

One of the options you’ve probably heard mentioned is to set yourself up as a limited company.… Continue reading »

Protecting your trade mark by registration is often overlooked by individuals and businesses alike, but the benefits that can be gained from your trade mark being registered can be long lived, and often come into fruition as your business flourishes. These benefits include (but are not limited to) control over the use of your brand by others, licensing the use of your trade mark for a fee, preventing others from entering the market with a confusingly similar or identical mark and more.

Why do I need to protect my trade mark?

A trade mark is a symbol of quality and trade marked goods are preferred by customers the world over simply because they assure people of a certain level of performance, functionality and durability.… Continue reading »

Every business day, individuals across the country receive free quotes to sell annuity for a lump sum of cash. As a highly competitive market, many settlement buyers are offering high bids to purchase annuities that generate a monthly or annual income to the annuitant.

Many individuals have received a structured settlement annuity payment plan as a result of winning a court case involving personal injury, medical malpractice or other legal action. When individuals sue one another there is often a settlement involved where the defendant agrees to make payments in installments. Typically, the defendant will pay a one-time premium to an insurance company that in turn issues an annuity policy for the injured party.… Continue reading »

Giving up a comfortable job to establish a new career is tough, but one that holds inexplicable appeal for an entrepreneur. In the initial stages, when you are full of motivation and zeal to give shape to your ideas, you probably look at every aspect of your venture through rose-tinted glasses. However, with time and experience, comes the realization that there are some harsh realities to confront and of these, one of the foremost is the legal aspect of running a business.

Although it is not expected that an entrepreneurs have to be experts of law, here are five laws in which individuals should be aware of before building a new business.… Continue reading »

The self-regulation of the UK third-party funding market has recently entered into a debate with the US. The Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), an American body, has insisted on statutory regulation and made 11 claims against litigation funding in England.

They claim that litigation funding in this country opens the flood gates to consumers making claims, despite the fact that it is not for personal injury claims and is only used by commercial companies and individuals with large scale commercial claims.

The Civil Justice Council working party have created the Code of Conduct and it is being embraced by litigation funders in the UK.… Continue reading »

Starting a business? Make sure that you are well versed with all the main laws that surround your entrepreneurial venture. At the offset of any business venture, aside from financial advice, it is of utmost importance that the entrepreneur is at the receiving end of excellent legal advice as well, since these are two very crucial foundational aspects of any enterprise.

While hiring financial and legal advisors may be a great idea, it may not be a viable option for small enterprises and new enterprises, since the cost of legal and financial advice from professionals might be a bit overwhelming. However, legal issues and knowledge, especially around insurance, real estate, taxes, intellectual property, etc.… Continue reading »

Most companies are aware of legal requirements and do take necessary steps to ensure a safe working environment.  However, uncertainty is part and parcel of life and is also part of any work place.

In which case, many a time, workers are injured despite preventive measures and mechanisms being in place.  Injury at work affects a workers ability to go about life as usual and brings up issues of hospitalization, medical care and rehabilitation, not necessarily all of these in all cases but at least some of these in all cases.

In case of injury, the question of worker’s compensation arises.… Continue reading »

No one expects the worst, and yet tragedy can strike at any time. Although we live in a world where there have been tremendous advances in modern medicine, and the average life expectancy continues to rise, there are still many diseases that have no cure. We also live in a world where a wide variety of accidents can happen, which can leave a person either physically or mentally incapacitated, and possibly both.

In these unsettling scenarios, the person who has not prepared themselves for this eventuality may be putting their entire family at risk. If they are not in a mental state that allows them to think clearly, or even make some basic decisions, they need to have provided in advance for someone they trust the power to do so.… Continue reading »

A law degree from the United States can have a big impact on small businesses abroad. For this reason, many international students contemplate an American law degree. However, students considering whether they should go to law school in the United States have a more difficult decision than previous decades. Law school admissions and big firm paychecks are more difficult to obtain and law school is getting more expensive for international students. Despite these trends, this is in many ways one of the best times to go to law school if you are the right candidate.

Here are three reasons you should go to law school in the united states.… Continue reading »

You are sure to have seen the many TV adverts offering legal advice on a ‘no win no fee’ compensation claim, and most are related to workplace accidents and injuries. However, you might not be aware of the type of accidents and injuries you can claim for compensation.

Here are the top ten injuries that occur in the workplace (and for which you could be eligible to claim compensation):

1. Overexertion

The most frequent workplace injury is caused by lifting, pushing, carrying and so on. Many jobs require physical exertion, whether it’s shifting bricks or moving files, resulting in pulled muscles and sprains.… Continue reading »

As a small or medium size enterprise, you may be required to offer maternity and paternity leave to your employees, and you may have to pay them either Statutory Maternity Pay, or Statutory Paternity Pay.

Entitlement to Statutory Maternity Leave

Your employee will have the right to 26 weeks of what is known as Ordinary Maternity Leave, together with 26 weeks of Additional Maternity Leave. These combined 52 weeks are known collectively as Maternity Leave. As long as your employee gives you the correct notice, you must give them Maternity Leave regardless of the length of their employment, how many hours they work or how much you pay them.… Continue reading »

Some companies for many reasons look to incorporate their business outside of the jurisdiction of their primary trading location. They can do this by forming an offshore trading company. This has many advantages for any business leader and probably the most well known and understood reason for doing this is for tax purposes.

Tax Havens

There are many so called ‘tax havens’ dotted about throughout the world with a good majority being located in the Caribbean, and on tiny islands in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Some of these tax havens have little or no taxation policies in place. Countries such as the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Anguilla and Nevis have zero estate tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax or withholding tax.… Continue reading »

It can be challenging for an entrepreneur to manage the legal issues associated with a small business. While many business owners may feel that hiring an attorney is out of their budget, it’s often possible to find an affordably priced lawyer to meet a company’s needs. The following guide explores the benefits of retaining a lawyer for your business.

The Challenges of Small Businesses

Small businesses encounter many challenges every day. While owning your own company can be a rewarding experience, it can be difficult to navigate the murky world of legalese without assistance from a professional lawyer. If, for example, you happen to live on Long Island and are looking for a construction attorney New York has a wide variety of options.… Continue reading »

In an age where internet-connected computers are everywhere, cyber-crime presents unique challenges to investigators, but it can almost always be solved successfully. The public’s widespread perception of online anonymity means that many cyber criminals leave an obvious path for law enforcement. Experienced investigators can usually track down even the most advanced perpetrators of online crime. Let’s take a look at modern law enforcement’s cyber-crime investigation process.

Beginning Investigation

After a victim of cyber-crime has filed a complaint with their local law enforcement detectives will search the IP, or internet address, of the suspect. If the crime occurred through a website, such as an online auction site or discussion forum, investigators may subpoena the site administrator to obtain logs of data that may identify the IP of the suspect or the computer they used.… Continue reading »

Bankruptcy talks always give business men a chill; it’s like reaching the end of the road and you are required to jump off a cliff. If there are other alternatives, it’s natural for business owners to take one of those instead of filing for bankruptcy.

The reasons are apparent; bankruptcy leaves a bad mark on your credit rating, not mentioning the loss of assets linked to overdue credits. Re-starting after a bankruptcy also requires you do extra works.

Indeed, it’s possible to open a business after bankruptcy, but you need to change your mindset and the ways you do business, so bankruptcy in the future can be avoided at all cost.… Continue reading »