In the first case of its kind, The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has prosecuted a bus company and its Managing Director for avoiding giving their staff workplace pensions. Stotts Tours (Oldham) and Alan Stott pleaded guilty to a total of 16 offences of wilfully failing to comply with the law on workplace pensions. Darren Ryder, TPR’s Director of Automatic Enrolment, said: “Dozens of staff at the company were entitled to workplace pensions but were denied them because their employer deliberately failed to set them up. Automatic enrolment is ... Continue reading

Plans to consult on a new independent body that would hold government to account for upholding environmental standards in England after we leave the European Union have been set out by Environment Secretary, Michael Gove. To help deliver a green Brexit, ministers will consult on a new independent statutory body to advise and challenge government and potentially other public bodies on environmental legislation – stepping in when needed to hold these bodies to account and enforce standards. A consultation on the specific powers and scope of t... Continue reading

More than two-thirds (68%) of UK businesses are worried their employees are using mobile phones to text or access the internet while driving for work, research by TomTom Telematics has revealed. The study also found 33% of organisations still have not taken steps to prevent employees from using mobile phones while driving, whether through specific policies, training or education. This is despite the introduction of harsher penalties for people caught using their mobile phone while driving, which came into force on 1 March this year. The stand... Continue reading

The Government is making crucial progress on the domestic legislation needed for Brexit, taking forward the next two Brexit Bills to Parliament. The Trade Bill and the Customs Bill will allow the UK to set the groundwork to becoming an independent global trading nation, providing necessary certainty for businesses and international trading partners to make the most of this opportunity. Key measures in the Trade Bill include provisions for the UK to implement existing EU trade agreements, helping ensure that UK companies can continue to access... Continue reading

ACAS has launched new guidance to help managers support stressed-out staff at work and make businesses more productive. ACAS helpline staff reportedly took more than 11,000 calls about stress at work last year and the new guidance has been designed to help organisations reduce stresses at work by advising on better job design and highlighting how managers can identify problems and deal with them sensitively. ACAS Senior Guidance Adviser, John Palmer, said: "The UK economy lost more than 11 million working days last year due to stress-relate... Continue reading