Employment law should be more flexible to help small businesses

1) What’s the biggest development you’ve seen in the legal world during your career?

Employment law is subject to frequent change. We are on the cusp of the most significant development yet: shared parental leave.

Broadly, what this will mean is that for babies born after 4 April 2015, mothers will be able to swap most of their maternity or adoption leave with their partner.

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It is also worth noting that the regulations are very complex and will heap a heavy administrative burden onto UK businesses.

2) What law would you like to see changed?

There is currently a relatively heavy regulatory burden on employers in the UK. In my view this level of regulation is absolutely right for larger employers. However, for small owner-managed businesses, it can sometimes seem that the administrative burden is disproportionate to their size and resource.

I would like to see employment laws changed to give more exemptions and allowances for this size of business.

3) What is the most exciting work you have ever done?

Every case in the Employment Tribunal is interesting, whether acting for employee or employer and I am constantly amazed by what people think they get away with at work. The cases I have had which needed to be decided by the Employment Appeal Tribunal in London were probably the most exciting.

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