tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74642080137797158202024-02-20T01:01:15.957+00:00ARAG UK blogWelcome to ARAG UK's Blog where we provide news and discussion on the issues facing the legal expenses market.ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.comBlogger251125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-83949832247607322622018-11-08T09:21:00.000+00:002018-11-08T09:21:09.815+00:00Essential: All Party Group recommends extending Health & Safety Fees for Intervention<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://theragnbone.blogspot.com/2018/10/covered-health-safety-executive-fees.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">I recently blogged</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> about protection against payment of Health & Safety Executive (HSE) Fees for Intervention (FFI) for businesses regulated by HSE available under our Commercial suite of products. (“Covered: health & Safety Executive Fees for Intervention”, posted 8 October). It seems that the Government has realised that local authorities might also benefit, if their health & Safety enforcement teams were able to claw back administrative costs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health (APPGOSH) has published a report, "Local Authorities and Health and Safety" which challenges the assumption that workplaces which are regulated by local authorities (as opposed to the HSE), such as offices, shops, warehouses, and pubs and clubs, necessarily carry a lower health and safety risk. The report points to the high rates of injury and illness in warehouses, and of occupational disease in offices (stress), supermarkets (musculoskeletal disorders), and pubs (violence). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Report recommendations include:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">placing more emphasis during inspections on health, rather than just safety;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">re-introducing compulsory pro-active inspection for all new premises or businesses regulated by the local authorities</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">extending fees for intervention (FFI) to local authority-regulated activities.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FFI was introduced in October 2012, allowing the Health & Safety Executive to charge businesses in the sectors that it regulates for the costs of regulation at a rate of £129 per hour. Further information about FFI can be found in <a href="https://theragnbone.blogspot.com/2018/10/covered-health-safety-executive-fees.html" target="_blank">my earlier blog</a>. </span><br />
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ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-27719575840904069692018-10-19T16:07:00.003+01:002018-10-25T09:44:23.925+01:00Our first Wellbeing Week!<h3>
During our first Wellbeing Week (8th – 12th October 2018) we focused each day on one of the 5 ways to wellbeing (give, be active, take notice, keep learning, connect). It was a great way to introduce these five simple strategies into the lives of our employees and see if they would feel the benefits.</h3>
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Monday - Give</h4>
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We started the week gently with a lunchtime craft club with colouring and a cuppa. Colouring books for adults are extremely therapeutic and can help generate wellness, quietness, mindfulness and the exact same benefits which meditation imparts on the brain. </div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">In the afternoon there was a slightly livelier ‘office improv’ session, designed to look at the fact that everyone has their own unique view on the world which makes everyone an interesting person, but fear stops us from expressing it out loud. The focus was on sharing unique perspectives through fun and silly games and learn that making mistakes can be one of the best things you'll ever do.</span></div>
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Tuesday – Be active</h4>
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What better way to get active than to head to the gym for a lunchtime workout? Our group undertook a gruelling bodyweight exercise class which certainly got the blood pumping!</div>
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Wednesday – Take notice </h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePa6dDmbdQRC_iYc38wiUV1AlY-Ql11WqYsgahPi6xHWI-6vP3sYKsoVoJeGrRQxhISk96su6gek2yS_V0VfmqweLdEfXmX75hBdwbnEOqGmAGT6rruh9CQCXYcG3TFO5lO8j0aSXIDwy/s1600/Massage+gif.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="580" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePa6dDmbdQRC_iYc38wiUV1AlY-Ql11WqYsgahPi6xHWI-6vP3sYKsoVoJeGrRQxhISk96su6gek2yS_V0VfmqweLdEfXmX75hBdwbnEOqGmAGT6rruh9CQCXYcG3TFO5lO8j0aSXIDwy/s200/Massage+gif.gif" width="193" /></a></div>
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This day was all about remembering the simple things that give you joy. Some of our lucky employees enjoyed 10-minute massages, with massage therapy helping to reduce stress, tension and promote overall wellbeing, it was a very pleasant part of their day!</div>
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Our wellbeing champions also distributed 'Happiness Postcards' around the office, provided to record 3 things which have made you happy that day. A simple but incredibly powerful action. It's about taking the time to notice the good things in our lives and get the more from these.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEQDG_7MNxecK3dTzEqlduEZ2d0XnU7fLnZr-v246Xy6E3RVtoHP2bPvlmDit-1bb_PY9cZc31vOxfxZLkA1tgenxo8ilcakhFuP5SCoN8cQPVKVl0-j7DLZMYqmQ8Dgp2GLmY3oyjtVq/s1600/DpJavcfV4AAe0wJ.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEQDG_7MNxecK3dTzEqlduEZ2d0XnU7fLnZr-v246Xy6E3RVtoHP2bPvlmDit-1bb_PY9cZc31vOxfxZLkA1tgenxo8ilcakhFuP5SCoN8cQPVKVl0-j7DLZMYqmQ8Dgp2GLmY3oyjtVq/s320/DpJavcfV4AAe0wJ.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Thursday – Keep learning</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSlV7xSaZ6nf92qkx72jZUYDrq3eFrIE_n9movDYT5m6fsRMp4dTPQ9R5DRvO2L0RxTxUaOPB07EiI-7szp34TtdGXDouuSlX55NkOgXUl-Wr9M8Wb58WBi2VYnmF9IGG10kGdQ9jDfcf/s1600/Bike+tyre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>What matters to you? This workshop was designed to increase our employee’s awareness of what matters to them at home and at work. With an opportunity to reflect on their current level o<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSlV7xSaZ6nf92qkx72jZUYDrq3eFrIE_n9movDYT5m6fsRMp4dTPQ9R5DRvO2L0RxTxUaOPB07EiI-7szp34TtdGXDouuSlX55NkOgXUl-Wr9M8Wb58WBi2VYnmF9IGG10kGdQ9jDfcf/s1600/Bike+tyre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSlV7xSaZ6nf92qkx72jZUYDrq3eFrIE_n9movDYT5m6fsRMp4dTPQ9R5DRvO2L0RxTxUaOPB07EiI-7szp34TtdGXDouuSlX55NkOgXUl-Wr9M8Wb58WBi2VYnmF9IGG10kGdQ9jDfcf/s200/Bike+tyre.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a>f wellbeing and identify areas in which you would like to make changes, practical tools and strategies were shared to help them move towards improvement.</div>
Taking a more ‘hands-on’ approach to learning, our Claims Team Leader, Hayden, shared invaluable knowledge on how to change the tyre on a push bike. With nearly 20% of employees cycling to work, it was an invaluable session for those at risk of a puncture. Thanks Hayden!<br />
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Friday - Connect <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSlV7xSaZ6nf92qkx72jZUYDrq3eFrIE_n9movDYT5m6fsRMp4dTPQ9R5DRvO2L0RxTxUaOPB07EiI-7szp34TtdGXDouuSlX55NkOgXUl-Wr9M8Wb58WBi2VYnmF9IGG10kGdQ9jDfcf/s1600/Bike+tyre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a></h4>
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On the final day we took the opportunity to connect with our group of wellbeing champions (who are also qualified mental health first aid champions) and hear about the plans for our new eco-garden, along with a free buffet lunch for all!</div>
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Our first wellbeing week was an opportunity for our employees to not only engage in new activities, but to also have the opportunity to consider their own wellbeing and the ways of wellbeing which work best for them - give, be active, take notice, keep learning or connect.</div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Thank you to everyone involved and especially our wellbeing champions for organising a wonderful week of activities. The feedback has been really positive and w</span>e are also working with the Workplace Wellbeing Charter to ensure that we continue to look after our employee’s wellbeing in the most effective way. We are already looking forward to another Wellbeing week next year! </div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-70938812092971314832018-10-18T13:41:00.000+01:002018-10-18T13:41:23.337+01:00Faster and free - Your clients’ right to medical records under GDPR?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>The introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) back in May generated a lot of uncertainty and work for businesses but created clear benefits for us all as individual “data subjects”. One up-side that went largely unnoticed is the right for clinical negligence claimants to have free access to their medical records.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before this summer, even just the mention of GDPR might be met with groans from colleagues tired of hearing about this important but inevitably complex piece of legislation that all of us in any sort of business had to get our heads around, to some extent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However, one specific aspect that has been of particular interest to all of us who work on behalf of people who have been harmed by medical malpractice, is the impact that the Regulation has had on accessing a client’s medical records.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The right to see the information that medical professionals have recorded about us isn’t new, of course. Such rights were certainly codified under GDPR’s predecessor the Data Protection Act in 1998 and, to a limited extent, the Access to Medical Reports Act back in 1988.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two key aspects of GDPR have already had a significant impact on how such matters are progressed. First, the regulation has reduced the amount of time that an organisation has to respond to a subject access request (SAR) from 40 to 30 calendar days, speeding up the process of assessing a claim which should be ultimately beneficial for all parties.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Second, and perhaps more important, has been GDPRs provision that organisations are no longer permitted to charge an administration fee for responding to a SAR, in most instances. As well as making it easier for prospective clinical negligence clients to get hold of their medical records before a specialist solicitor assesses the merits of their case, this also has the effect of speeding up the claims process. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These implications of GDPR are not entirely uncontentious and there has been some resistance, particularly for some smaller medical organisations such as GP surgeries, claiming to be overwhelmed by the demand to review large, historic medical files in order to redact data about any third parties who may not have consented to the release of any information about them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There remains some uncertainty around precisely where such responsibilities fall but, on the whole, GDPR appears to have supplied a rare improvement for claimants trying to assert their legal rights in what are often the most difficult of circumstances.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While surveying its members on the impact of such requests, the BMA has produced some useful guidance for the medical profession about GDPR, particularly its <a href="https://www.bma.org.uk/advice/employment/ethics/confidentiality-and-health-records/general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr" target="_blank">FAQs related to SARs</a>.<br /><br />Like all legislation, there are clearly some wrinkles that still need to be ironed out. Nonetheless, anything that speeds up the lengthy process of seeking redress for injury caused by clinical negligence can only be a good thing, for all parties involved.</span></div>
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<br />ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-23491684237731970242018-10-08T15:26:00.001+01:002018-10-23T15:03:34.863+01:00Covered: Health & Safety Executive Fees for Intervention<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The inclusion of cover that pays Health & Safety Executive Fees for Intervention (FFI) has attracted positive feedback following the relaunch of our commercial products in the Spring. Here’s some further information about FFI that’s aimed at helping agents explain what the new cover is and how enhances the value of the products. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Background</span></h3>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fee for Intervention (FFI) is a “cost recovery scheme” operated by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). Under the Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations 2012. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Under the Health and Safety (Fees) Regulations 2012, workplaces in ‘material breach’ of health and safety laws are liable for recovery of the HSE’s costs for any inspection, investigation and enforcement action that is undertaken. A ‘material breach’ occurs when the HSE issues a notification of contravention, an improvement or prohibition notice, or a prosecution. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When criminal proceedings are started, FFI cease and criminal prosecution costs apply. (Note - prosecution costs are not covered by LEI, but the cost of legal representation is).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From October 1, 2012, the HSE have been able to recover the costs of its interventions from businesses found to be in material breach of the law, even in the absence of a prosecution.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If the HSE intervenes they are under a legal duty to recover costs in all cases where there is (i) a material breach of health and safety law and (ii) a requirement to rectify the breach is made in writing.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There does not have to be an incident or prosecution to trigger such HSE involvement</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Scope of FFI </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sectors regulated by the HSE include: factories, mines, schools, fairgrounds, nursing homes, government premises, dentists and doctors’ surgeries. (Other occupations are regulated by local authorities which do not operate a fee regime).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FFI applies to public and limited companies, partnerships, the Crown and public bodies, and to self-employed people.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It does not apply to: </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Self-employed people who only put themselves at risk </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Employees (Partners are not employees) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Work where another HSE fee is already payable (for some or all of that work), e.g. under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Other organisations that enforce health and safety law, such as the police or local authorities, will not be able to recover their costs under FFI.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FFI Charges </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Inspection with no action taken: No costs will be recovered</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Inspection resulting in an email or letter: £750</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Inspection resulting in a notice being issued: £1500</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Full investigation: Ranges from approximately £750 through to several thousands of pounds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">HSE will invoice the business and expect payment within 30 days. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A complaints process is available allowing businesses to bring a complaint about an invoice and HSE will explain the process when a charge is levied. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ARAG’s position</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In our view, FFI are not fines and they have not been introduced as a civil penalty - but solely to support Government policy which requires that service users should pay for the costs of the services they use. HSE policy guidance makes it clear that the purpose of FFI is to recoup costs, and of course exposure to FFI may encourage good H & S practice. The law does not prohibit the use of insurance as a funding mechanism.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FFI could be considered similar to an order for opponents’ costs in a civil case, but the charges relate to internal admin, rather than legal costs incurred. Including indemnity for FFI for commercial policyholders completes a ring of protection by extending indemnity that has always been available for legal costs to appeal H & S enforcements notices, and to defend prosecutions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since data has become available that allowed us to calculate the risk, we were pleased to add FFI cover as part of the May 2018 relaunch of commercial products. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Notifying claims</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We cannot settle FFI invoices until they have been raised, but policyholders should tell us about H & S activity as soon as they are aware that the H & S Exec has identified non-compliance that will incur FFI charges. We may also be dealing with a claim to appeal against an improvement or prohibition notice that relates to the intervention that has resulted in liability for FFI. If that is the case, customers should quote the reference of any claim that relates to the same event. FFI invoices should be sent to us promptly for payment. </span><br />
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<br />ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-9113366002773396512018-09-13T12:09:00.000+01:002018-10-09T10:40:50.482+01:00Supporting Our Superhero Brokers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For a lot of us, learning is something we associate with our younger years and school, college, sixth form or university. Our later years are traditionally just for work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Recently though this has been changing. More and more people are seeking out new skills and information, both to stay ahead in their careers and exercise their minds. The NHS advises adults continue to learn for their entire lives to keep up their mental wellbeing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Continued professional learning and mental wellbeing are a huge focus for us as a business. This year we've been working on something to mirror what we are doing internally and offer our business partners the same opportunity to learn.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhaeiXLMEHF91XDFlx5_upVIPYEQ45jOatrNMgjubJKLEmCYiI5f4DlZlSxRwAbiqeG2-FluyBPU8j37l-xg9iQidpAUVnkmJylf2qee2OL2JuDSJfx9kY0A9WIbqMlvodkHjoiTS0lT2/s1600/EduMe+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhaeiXLMEHF91XDFlx5_upVIPYEQ45jOatrNMgjubJKLEmCYiI5f4DlZlSxRwAbiqeG2-FluyBPU8j37l-xg9iQidpAUVnkmJylf2qee2OL2JuDSJfx9kY0A9WIbqMlvodkHjoiTS0lT2/s1600/EduMe+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhaeiXLMEHF91XDFlx5_upVIPYEQ45jOatrNMgjubJKLEmCYiI5f4DlZlSxRwAbiqeG2-FluyBPU8j37l-xg9iQidpAUVnkmJylf2qee2OL2JuDSJfx9kY0A9WIbqMlvodkHjoiTS0lT2/s1600/EduMe+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="491" data-original-width="370" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzhaeiXLMEHF91XDFlx5_upVIPYEQ45jOatrNMgjubJKLEmCYiI5f4DlZlSxRwAbiqeG2-FluyBPU8j37l-xg9iQidpAUVnkmJylf2qee2OL2JuDSJfx9kY0A9WIbqMlvodkHjoiTS0lT2/s320/EduMe+1.png" width="241" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To do this we're launching a <b>completely free online training platform</b>. This platform is designed to be a simple, easy to use way to get you intimately familiar with our products and services. It's available on your desktop just through your web browser, or on any <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/edume/id1289723199" target="_blank">iPhone, iPad</a> or <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edume.android&hl" target="_blank">Android device</a> using the EduMe app. You can see a sample of what the platform looks like on the right.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first module is an introduction to legal expenses insurance, then there is a specific module to help you get to grips with our recently relaunched Essential Business Legal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The training platform has been tested and trialled both internally at ARAG and externally with some of our business partners to very positive feedback. It could even qualify towards the continual professional development (CPD) hours you need for this year, to find out if it does speak to your supervisor or compliance team.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://arag.edume.com/welcome/uk/ukba2018" target="_blank">To get started with the ARAG training platform all you need to do is click here</a></b>. You'll need to sign up with your email and a password, and don't worry we won't be using your data for any marketing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's completely free and we'll be adding new modules on other products and services in the future so you might want to bookmark the site so you can check back.</span><br />
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-32100444566397896962018-08-31T16:06:00.000+01:002018-08-31T16:24:20.604+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A judge has ruled that a business that acted on behalf of a landlord to evict a tenant “crossed the line” in carrying out regulated legal services that only qualified solicitors are permitted to provide. Here’s a link to the full story which appeared on Litigation Future’s website: </span><br />
<a href="https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/unregulated-eviction-service-crossed-line-into-litigation" target="_blank"></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a href="https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/unregulated-eviction-service-crossed-line-into-litigation" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/unregulated-eviction-service-crossed-line-into-litigation</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s easy to see how landlords are tempted to use services such as “Remove a tenant” as an alternative to representing themselves, or paying for solicitor representation in legal proceedings. Not only did “Remove a tenant” break the law, the legal notice that they issued to repossess the property was faulty. The landlord had to go back to court to proceed with their claim using alternative grounds to repossess their property.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Legal expenses insurance for landlords provides a helpline to talk through correctly issuing a landlord’s notice to repossess and ARAG’s Landlord Legal Solutions policy allows your landlord clients to download the notices and a covering letter for free from our legal services website. If a tenant fails to leave on expiry of the notice, the policy pays legal costs for a regulated law firm to act for the insured. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">According from their website “Remove a tenant” charge from £50 to issue a repossession notice, and the cost of preparing for a court hearing and representation is charged from £250 (+VAT) http://www.removeatenant.co.uk/legal-services/ - this is much more than the cost of Landlord’s Legal Solutions over the average term of a tenancy. Surely peace of mind and confidence that claims will be dealt with properly is surely an attractive prospect for customers who may be reluctant to opt in to legal expenses? I’ll leave you to guess the moral of this story...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-37114249587502300972018-08-28T11:43:00.000+01:002018-08-28T11:43:54.113+01:00What Every Innovator Needs To Know About R&D Tax Credits<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-W8Iv6ZB-i6_eS1blFcIHEITcl171il4gi-Bq5dzaiiigJjPDOJ2omHnUd4ARVOU6BLw7FfCm2xreARAyMfMooe-FPjlspaAjs6MKWg6SA6yRK5RQdBXLyl0cCabW46i4gvCm_HOO-CR/s1600/R%2526D+Credits+Blog+2.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-W8Iv6ZB-i6_eS1blFcIHEITcl171il4gi-Bq5dzaiiigJjPDOJ2omHnUd4ARVOU6BLw7FfCm2xreARAyMfMooe-FPjlspaAjs6MKWg6SA6yRK5RQdBXLyl0cCabW46i4gvCm_HOO-CR/s640/R%2526D+Credits+Blog+2.png" /></a><div style="margin: 0px;">
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From time to time we receive queries about
particular HMRC regulations and whether we cover claims that arise from them
under Essential Business Legal and our other commercial products. </span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The topic of self-employed contractors, who
provide their services through a service company and are subject to “IR35”
comes up from time to time.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(The answer
is “yes”, we will deal with HMRC enquiries and disputes for self- employed
contractors provided that the conditions of the policy have been met).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Last week, we had<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>a query that hasn’t come up before - about Research &
Development (R&D) tax credits. </span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;">If you have clients that engage in </span><span style="color: #0b0c0c; margin: 0px;">innovative projects in science and technology, you
may be interested in this. </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About
R&D Tax Credits</span></span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCF0IGs-PG2d7d2Nsx7YucJVt9aoS0emqzaI5Gejs_dYPXskkgY4tS6jqlQBq2iTuj-8-isHg7CTluWheVfO8a3_TDs6qvuhnR3UqczfHTPDQBA7Iku27bqIC03Uclk5jBROy9CWS_vs1/s1600/shutterstock_691541086.png" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCF0IGs-PG2d7d2Nsx7YucJVt9aoS0emqzaI5Gejs_dYPXskkgY4tS6jqlQBq2iTuj-8-isHg7CTluWheVfO8a3_TDs6qvuhnR3UqczfHTPDQBA7Iku27bqIC03Uclk5jBROy9CWS_vs1/s1600/shutterstock_691541086.png" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCF0IGs-PG2d7d2Nsx7YucJVt9aoS0emqzaI5Gejs_dYPXskkgY4tS6jqlQBq2iTuj-8-isHg7CTluWheVfO8a3_TDs6qvuhnR3UqczfHTPDQBA7Iku27bqIC03Uclk5jBROy9CWS_vs1/s1600/shutterstock_691541086.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;">R&D tax credits can be claimed by companies
which have incurred </span><span style="margin: 0px;">expenditure </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="_MailEndCompose"><span style="color: #0b0c0c; margin: 0px;">on innovative projects in science and technology. They
can be claimed by a range of companies that seek to research or develop an
advance in their field. HMRC define the types of project that qualify for R&D credits. E.G:</span></a></span><br />
<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiB6JMD5w5GXSGvJeprKu1bx9IAGveZqY1CLRDgq-BM0w3ODK7omaLxdkwy3_0mYyU7UMBi8Xy9lws0FQgqe2u_a1axrTH-PmxV0JmScfymT6nD6PN1pW1lh5mx2-NBgeBcEb2pc0qQmK/s1600/shutterstock_691541086.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="973" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiB6JMD5w5GXSGvJeprKu1bx9IAGveZqY1CLRDgq-BM0w3ODK7omaLxdkwy3_0mYyU7UMBi8Xy9lws0FQgqe2u_a1axrTH-PmxV0JmScfymT6nD6PN1pW1lh5mx2-NBgeBcEb2pc0qQmK/s320/shutterstock_691541086.png" width="194" /></span></a>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The work must be part of a specific project to make an advance in science or technology.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It can't be an advance within a social science like economics or a theoretical field like pure mathematics.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The project must relate to the company's trade - either and existing one, or one that they intend to start up based on the results of the R&D.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To get R&D relief the business must explain how a project:</span></li>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">looked for an advance in science and technology</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">had to overcome uncertainty</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tried to overcome this uncertainty</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">couldn't be easily worked out by a professional in the field</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b0c0c; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SME R&D relief allows
companies with up to 500 employees to:</span></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">deduct an extra 130% of their qualifying costs from their yearly profit, as well as the normal 100% deduction, to make a total 230% deduction</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">claim a tax credit if the company is loss making, worth up to 145% of the surrenderable loss</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<div style="margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b0c0c; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A different
significantly less generous scheme applies for larger firms and I‘ve included
a link below for more information:</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/corporation-tax-research-and-development-tax-relief-for-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises%23how-to-claim-rd-relief"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/corporation-tax-research-and-development-tax-relief-for-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises#how-to-claim-rd-relief</span></span></span></a></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b0c0c; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #0b0c0c; margin: 0px;">According to a post by one lawyer firm,</span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; margin: 0px;"> the </span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; margin: 0px;">HMRC’s
large business directorate is challenging more tax relief claims and the sum
being disputed in relation to </span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; margin: 0px;">R&D tax credit claims nearly quadrupled in
2017, up</span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; margin: 0px;"> </span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; margin: 0px;">from £90m to £425m for large businesses.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Claiming R&D Tax Credits </span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Businesses
can make a claim for R&D Tax credits when they fill in their Corporation
Tax self- assessment return by calculating their expenditure on R&D and
supporting their claim with suitable information.</span></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does Cover Apply If HMRC Challenge R&D Tax Credits Claimed? </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good news! Essential Business legal will come to
the rescue if HMRC investigate the insured’s Corporation Tax self-assessment
return and raise a challenge about a tax credit claim provided that fraud has
not been alleged of course, and that the return has been submitted to HMRC on
time. </span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One innovation deserves another. We hope that your
innovative clients enjoy the peace of mind provided by our innovative
(relaunched) Essential Business Legal and other Commercial legal expenses insurance products!</span></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-48214264248455764102018-08-03T14:38:00.002+01:002018-08-09T11:42:19.278+01:00Volunteering for FOCUS!<h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGw6hnXMzyORBr9L4Ge-AJTc0nL6B9MBLaKeS004wdOxYVhDtrlj1BwFgZ_ENKZQrzM1oxs5dclRYNeHGeuCJz8lMki-Wr89uyM6_yWs50zoAkiJAkc_VGJPrEfa0I9FottCYr9ZNPTkw/s1600/IMG_8070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGw6hnXMzyORBr9L4Ge-AJTc0nL6B9MBLaKeS004wdOxYVhDtrlj1BwFgZ_ENKZQrzM1oxs5dclRYNeHGeuCJz8lMki-Wr89uyM6_yWs50zoAkiJAkc_VGJPrEfa0I9FottCYr9ZNPTkw/s320/IMG_8070.jpg" width="320" /></a>Last Friday, 27th July, Fran, Hannah, Ollie & Jake caught the train to Cheltenham to volunteer for FOCUS at the Cheltenham Cricket Festival T20 game. </h3>
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FOCUS is our charity of the year and is the charitable fund for the Gloucestershire Oncology Centre, which raises funds to provide extra care, specialist equipment and improvements to facilities for local cancer patients.<br />
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<h3>
Our volunteers collected raffle tickets in the hospitality tent which took over £1,600, and £394.10 from a bucket collection at the end of the day, raising nearly £2,000 in total!</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSV8GBgvBD9Ahu-yxt62F9msOrj8VAfWZ3lOogyBpnebFT8pzel2mOHuHYFcnpk_WYqpD6b8fdkNvVWPS-5ePqD3zLbd3swMJC_qEJ5bvHmFyEhs7Cdwreq5xLuIYClmD9rfDNzrjH8Ol/s1600/IMG_8087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="373" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSV8GBgvBD9Ahu-yxt62F9msOrj8VAfWZ3lOogyBpnebFT8pzel2mOHuHYFcnpk_WYqpD6b8fdkNvVWPS-5ePqD3zLbd3swMJC_qEJ5bvHmFyEhs7Cdwreq5xLuIYClmD9rfDNzrjH8Ol/s200/IMG_8087.JPG" width="185" /></a></div>
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In between the raffle and bucket collection, our volunteers took a tour of the oncology centre at Cheltenham hospital to see just how valuable our fundraising efforts are. </div>
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The FOCUS support centre is situated in the heart of the Oncology Centre in the outpatient waiting area of the Hospital. The centre is fully funded by donations and is an invaluable source of information for patients, their carers and families. The team are there to support patients at every step; from a diagnosis of cancer to advice during and beyond their treatment.</div>
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The Focus Support Centre also offers: general information, support and advice on many types of cancer, talking with children, financial and estate planning, travel insurance, fatigue, support for carers etc. The centre is able to signpost people to benefits support, health and wellbeing events, counselling and psychological services. The support team also recruit a team of volunteer qualified therapists who offer complimentary therapies for patients. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3RtQLIu7UYHbaMoqvbytj3HQOjnoF_JPn_QQC_VAU_sdxPyClfvQaR_T0bsUGCZ_XG5tKj6BA0INOiGX5osrKKi6Ht8qadAuhDCPHP7dnJcsyR9-ljPC5XSRDgaFERelEk9pP6A8Jbzo/s1600/IMG_8078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="537" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3RtQLIu7UYHbaMoqvbytj3HQOjnoF_JPn_QQC_VAU_sdxPyClfvQaR_T0bsUGCZ_XG5tKj6BA0INOiGX5osrKKi6Ht8qadAuhDCPHP7dnJcsyR9-ljPC5XSRDgaFERelEk9pP6A8Jbzo/s320/IMG_8078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Every donation makes a real impact by funding extra care and equipment over and above that provided by the NHS. Recent donations have provided:<br />
- a weekly wig clinic with a professional wig consultant, free of charge<br />
- special reclining chairs which give comfort to patients receiving chemotherapy treatment<br />
- sky ceilings which transform the environment in radiotherapy treatment rooms<br />
- staff to expand the Focus Research Centre and trials to local people fighting cancer.<br />
<br />
We are currently at 45% of our 2018 fundraising target for FOCUS, you can track our efforts here: <a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ARAGLEI" target="_blank">https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ARAGLEI</a></div>
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<i>P.s for the cricket fans out there, Gloucestershire beat Glamorgan by 30 runs.</i></div>
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<br />ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-89958986875597357702018-07-26T15:50:00.001+01:002018-07-26T15:51:07.543+01:00A Shocking New Report on Sexual Harrassment in the Workplace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-7lpet0dHu4nKT6xYXPkZJrxU-Xdxfw1ZT7eekIGMhHq7Q9iLHNOY1idy7GVJlb4CJ5GEKZdgGueawuAVVH7yr4akvb7b67_ebKh0ml96AvYsWN8OpQ-c7agjjuyluF_fjtOkfZu5FRY/s1600/Harrassment+Blog+Banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1500" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-7lpet0dHu4nKT6xYXPkZJrxU-Xdxfw1ZT7eekIGMhHq7Q9iLHNOY1idy7GVJlb4CJ5GEKZdgGueawuAVVH7yr4akvb7b67_ebKh0ml96AvYsWN8OpQ-c7agjjuyluF_fjtOkfZu5FRY/s640/Harrassment+Blog+Banner.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The Women and Equalities Select Committee has published a
report about sexual harassment in the workplace. The Committee found that
sexual harassment at work is widespread and commonplace but there has been a
failure by employers and regulators to tackle unlawful behaviours. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">40% of women and 18% of men have experienced
unwanted sexual behaviour in the workplace</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Women aged 18-34 are most at risk of sexual
harassment at work, with 43% having experienced it</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">according to a survey of UK adults that was carried out by
the BBC.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The report calls on Government to put sexual harassment at
the top of the agenda and sets out five priorities. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Introduce
a new duty on employers to prevent harassment</b>, supported by a statutory
code of practice outlining the steps they can take to do this; and ensuring
that interns, volunteers and those harassed by third parties have access to the
same legal protections and remedies as their workplace colleagues;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Require
regulators to take a more active role</b>, starting by setting out the actions
they will take to help tackle this problem, including the enforcement action
they will take; and making it clear to those they regulate that sexual
harassment is a breach of professional standards and a reportable offence with
sanctions;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Make
enforcement processes work better for employees</b> by setting out in the
statutory code of practice what employers should do to tackle sexual
harassment; and reducing barriers to taking forward tribunal cases, including
by extending the time limit for submitting a claim, introducing punitive
damages for employers and reducing cost risks for employees;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Clean up
the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)</b>, including by requiring the use
of standard, plain English confidentiality clauses, which set out the meaning,
limit and effect of the clause, and making it an offence to misuse such
clauses; and extending whistleblowing protections so that disclosures to the
police and regulators such as the EHRC are protected;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt "Times New Roman"; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Collect
robust data</b> on the extent of sexual harassment in the workplace and on the
number of employment tribunal claims involving complaints of harassment of a
sexual nature.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">You can access links to the full report, a summary or the
report conclusions here - <a href="https://bit.ly/2JRNbTs">https://bit.ly/2JRNbTs</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">ARAG policyholders who have registered to use our Business
or Consumer Legal Services website can dip into our law guide to learn more
about workplace harassment. The Employee handbook for Business customers sets
out non-contractual matter and includes policies and procedures to minimise the
risk of potential employee lawsuits, such as discrimination, harassment and
unfair dismissal. <a href="http://www.araglegal.co.uk/">www.araglegal.co.uk</a></span></div>
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ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-40304908977643781992018-07-26T14:51:00.000+01:002018-07-31T09:25:32.446+01:00Is the Criminal Justice System Criminally Under-Funded?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodHg2TMLqO4Th079_chmOPxr9-h2a12SJR0N0oZxE_x6bqkU8243UPBxVuFbdnBfu72P4DjOZMGLICe9zhMvCB6S6SRqp5zbzsP__XghU9DKsi6GzUCCC5zh-Pd6a8pka9JkW5bkHgjub/s1600/Criminal+Justice+Under-Funded.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1500" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodHg2TMLqO4Th079_chmOPxr9-h2a12SJR0N0oZxE_x6bqkU8243UPBxVuFbdnBfu72P4DjOZMGLICe9zhMvCB6S6SRqp5zbzsP__XghU9DKsi6GzUCCC5zh-Pd6a8pka9JkW5bkHgjub/s640/Criminal+Justice+Under-Funded.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Justice
Select Committee has issued a critical report in response to criminal legal aid
reforms. In criminal cases, there is a common law right to legal advice, and a
right to legal representation under the European Convention on Human Rights. The committee heard “compelling evidence” of the fragility of the
Criminal Bar and criminal defence solicitors' firms, which places these rights
at risk.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It concluded
that under-funding of the criminal justice system in England and Wales
threatens its effectiveness, tarnishing the reputation of the justice system as
a whole, and undermining the rule of law.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Committee
recommends that the Government conduct an urgent cross-departmental review of
funding of all elements of the criminal justice system, with the aim of
restoring resources to a level that enables the system to operate effectively.</span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Comment:
</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Legal
Expenses Insurance gives limited cover for criminal defence which usually is
only available for work-related and motoring prosecutions. As there is no possibility
of transferring liability for defence costs from the state to a private funder
(such as an insurer), the prospect of an under-funded system, that
potentially compromises an individual’s right to legal representation which is
necessary for a fair trial, is of particular concern. </span></span></i></div>
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<br />ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-91408996377274375562018-07-24T15:14:00.000+01:002018-07-24T15:14:20.348+01:00Protecting Property From Fraudster Tenants<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJwxfdQGdSyhyphenhyphen9vdyJ_qjORP2Mizk1T0xblbcuDuO8nISR-7fjQ8S6uGFMU0QjloS-2iWfhneQuzv7pzxyddZ7dnAQiTxPMEsVUZTZrzXz89P8pFGX5CArMLJ52pio0qY9vkieoksro1p/s1600/Fraudster+Tenants+Blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJwxfdQGdSyhyphenhyphen9vdyJ_qjORP2Mizk1T0xblbcuDuO8nISR-7fjQ8S6uGFMU0QjloS-2iWfhneQuzv7pzxyddZ7dnAQiTxPMEsVUZTZrzXz89P8pFGX5CArMLJ52pio0qY9vkieoksro1p/s640/Fraudster+Tenants+Blog.png" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When you think of ways Problem Tenants could cause your clients financial difficulty you'd usually think of things like them damaging the property, inviting criminal elements in to the home or simply not paying rent. But there are other, more damaging things, that an unscrupulous tenant can do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of these things is to apply for a loan or mortgage secured on the property. This can be especially damaging, as there's a chance that your client could end up losing an awful lot of money if the lender issues legal proceedings for repossession. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So how could this happen? After all the tenant doesn't own the house, your client does. But if that tenant has utility bills or documents showing that they live at the property, they can apply for a new mortgage or loan secured on the property. This will be registered with the Land Registry in due course, which will generate an alert about the fraudulent loan. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That should be it right? Your client receives the alert and stops the unscrupulous tenant from taking out the loan. But this will only work if the contact address that the Land Registry hold for your client isn't the property address. Because otherwise the tenant will be the one who receives the alert and your client will be none the wiser!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFry8EE60RS4rWZtHZxnZ4uMaqykfBa8FDqzc4dXUZIO0HWva6XbGxrNOzmGx_do08XoQGT3M8fdX5-d04OzRu-d4FqgB0f1y0wRsQfWnM8FyoQeh7e9-AHxhgVAQsGRyy3MhQ_8jtX8y/s1600/shutterstock_685001959.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFry8EE60RS4rWZtHZxnZ4uMaqykfBa8FDqzc4dXUZIO0HWva6XbGxrNOzmGx_do08XoQGT3M8fdX5-d04OzRu-d4FqgB0f1y0wRsQfWnM8FyoQeh7e9-AHxhgVAQsGRyy3MhQ_8jtX8y/s200/shutterstock_685001959.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are four things your clients can do to make taking a fraudulent loan out on their property much more difficult, if not outright impossible:</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Make a list of every property they own</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Check each of those properties with the Land Registry to ensure that they have the right contact details (their home or business address and the right email address)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Arrange for property alerts to be sent if somebody tries to change the register of any of the properties</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Make sure that any time they buy a new property they repeat this process, and never let a property without the correct alerts set up on it</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Keeping track of properties and setting up an alert with the Land Registry is so important. If your clients have a lot of properties advise them to keep an organised list with details of their registration and alerts and that they keep this up to date.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you are a landlord you can <a href="https://www.gov.uk/protect-land-property-from-fraud" target="_blank">click here to get started with your property alerts</a>, and don't put this one off as it could come back to bite you in future! If you have landlord clients feel free to share this blog with them, as it could be a real life-saver. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ARAG provides access to a legal advice line that can support your clients through an issue such as this, and a wealth of templates and pre-written letters to be used by landlords in disputes with tenants and other bodies. All this on top of the insurance that <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black;">pays
legal costs for landlords to recover vacant possession (subject to the correct
legal notice being issued) , to pursue rent arrears and compensation for
property damage and to defend criminal prosecutions that arise from renting out
property. Indemnity for rent arrears can also be arranged.</span></span></span>ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-38452024436476380732018-07-11T11:03:00.000+01:002018-07-11T11:22:05.694+01:00The Importance Of Expert Knowledge<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLSkn070SdIGm6ZlXmsIzzoy-jnUFCr-n2rI0Y_28H2Hmz2WHMSdJh-pH3Ycxki8yz6nUL-kXZcoAmTuGK2xaqeQ20fk5-a0CnW89YzqEYNLecNEyKlJfaI1aetfqQALA1ewTarmUX6eD/s1600/Immunotherapy+Blog+Banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLSkn070SdIGm6ZlXmsIzzoy-jnUFCr-n2rI0Y_28H2Hmz2WHMSdJh-pH3Ycxki8yz6nUL-kXZcoAmTuGK2xaqeQ20fk5-a0CnW89YzqEYNLecNEyKlJfaI1aetfqQALA1ewTarmUX6eD/s640/Immunotherapy+Blog+Banner.png" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Like the solicitors at our partner firms, everyone at ARAG
recognises the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest legal
developments in those practice areas in which our after-the-event policies are
used. But such expertise often extends beyond the realms of purely legal
knowledge.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just one example is the progress over recent years in using
immunotherapy treatments for mesothelioma<span style="margin: 0px;">, which offer unprecedented and realistic hope for asbestos victims, but at
a considerable price. </span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trying to include
the cost of such treatments in a settlement requires knowledge, not just of the
current legal position, but also the latest clinical trials and decisions with
regard to NHS funding of such drugs.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even today, when
medical miracles abound, the prognosis for mesothelioma patients is bleak and
the standard treatments brutal. A combination of surgery, chemotherapy and
radiotherapy may extend life for some terminally ill patients, but the reprieve
is likely to be measured in months, not years.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Relatively new
“immunotherapy” drugs, such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab, have been approved
for NHS use in treating some cancers under certain circumstances, but trials
are still ongoing for mesothelioma patients, so many would have to pay for them
personally, to benefit.</span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41bCzUzqfDNFLuDUJhgSs7vYdQz5cPSac8Z6AYAb23b_H09sMCGK5bdiYUvggeAV8hEI7Ew5WyTS8Zo94Zjk0nobs3zy3MkJk-SxfDl5NgT2B9g9okkUkBrpS9Mj3_gC6t07XGfZeZCDx/s1600/shutterstock_779115775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41bCzUzqfDNFLuDUJhgSs7vYdQz5cPSac8Z6AYAb23b_H09sMCGK5bdiYUvggeAV8hEI7Ew5WyTS8Zo94Zjk0nobs3zy3MkJk-SxfDl5NgT2B9g9okkUkBrpS9Mj3_gC6t07XGfZeZCDx/s320/shutterstock_779115775.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The cost, even for a
short course of such drugs, currently runs to tens of thousands of pounds
which, if they do their job, could turn into an annual bill well into six
figures.</span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Such sums, especially
given the uncertainty surrounding both the treatment’s success and for how long
it might be needed, inevitably make things very difficult when trying to reach
a settlement in this sort of claim.</span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nonetheless, I’m very pleased to say that we have had some
recent successes with partner firms working on this sort of industrial disease
case. Through their diligence and expertise, clients who have been dealt a
cruel hand now have the hope afforded by the latest in medical advances.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Such successes demonstrate the importance of all the
homework that we and our solicitor firms do to stay in touch with the latest
developments in relevant practice areas. They also reflect ARAG’s mission, for
more than 80 years, to provide equal access to justice for all citizens, regardless
of their means.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In these cases, access to justice might also be the
difference between life and death.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtWcLy-J8OKAiF7lRBPCJ_dpT1_QZe8AxPg4OAw5ds7LIkZfXnDVe-fhW4m4RAo_5e27mLl_9iX4gpduZ7J-d-8FXwFgSLtRilc1vYmzslpjHrtlLFX5edfQcY5-bvMTKfvBReuCaPRe-/s1600/Lisa+Profile+Blogger.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtWcLy-J8OKAiF7lRBPCJ_dpT1_QZe8AxPg4OAw5ds7LIkZfXnDVe-fhW4m4RAo_5e27mLl_9iX4gpduZ7J-d-8FXwFgSLtRilc1vYmzslpjHrtlLFX5edfQcY5-bvMTKfvBReuCaPRe-/s640/Lisa+Profile+Blogger.png" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-37601456480618983172018-07-05T09:53:00.000+01:002018-07-05T09:53:13.963+01:00Government Consults About Longer Tenancies
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPel4pNJcqBc5LO9EvebJJ8vnHrtoGzgS0FE-Z_PGJE2wg1nNGuxguQGyPYVhcyH_TDEw4rR3G4O82vL97yK9p3IegNnWnUg_YgFpohepbwL9Ig6bdPP7FLz-ZbUEJtQ3GucccYGsn9EIV/s1600/Lesley+Tenancy+Blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPel4pNJcqBc5LO9EvebJJ8vnHrtoGzgS0FE-Z_PGJE2wg1nNGuxguQGyPYVhcyH_TDEw4rR3G4O82vL97yK9p3IegNnWnUg_YgFpohepbwL9Ig6bdPP7FLz-ZbUEJtQ3GucccYGsn9EIV/s640/Lesley+Tenancy+Blog.png" width="640" /></a><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">The Government is
consulting about measures to increase security for tenants in the
private rented sector – such as introducing a 3 year tenancy with a 6 month break
clause. The private rented sector makes up 20% of all households. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">The
average length of residence in the private rented sector is 3.9 years in
comparison with 17.5 years in the owner occupier sector and 11.3 years in the
social sector. However, 81% of tenancies granted are for an initial fixed term
of 6 or 12 months</span></div>
<b><br /></b><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="margin: 0px;">The
consultation, which is open until 26 August, seeks views in the barriers to
longer tenancies and how to over- come them. </span>Any policy changes brought
forward as a result of the consultation will be subject to appropriate
assessment. It is likely that further grounds for repossession may be
introduced, for example to allow a landlord to sell their property that is
subject to a three year let. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFyO2DKcaN3xo0ix77ynu909ExxUZu71z6fuEOghBycwwJLH8JqWdEwJOnEEI5YSA6v2l8hHCqerjfRAo8bUmhyphenhyphenp3rIOtRud_IjIkgf2yOKVjutVnijvxEbLBkZL7EmwkpY0AZSzTF4IK/s1600/shutterstock_410542774+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFyO2DKcaN3xo0ix77ynu909ExxUZu71z6fuEOghBycwwJLH8JqWdEwJOnEEI5YSA6v2l8hHCqerjfRAo8bUmhyphenhyphenp3rIOtRud_IjIkgf2yOKVjutVnijvxEbLBkZL7EmwkpY0AZSzTF4IK/s200/shutterstock_410542774+%25281%2529.png" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: calibri;">With an eye on
how reforms may affect our Landlords’ Legal and Commercial Property Owners’
products, we will track the consultation response document and any legislation
that emerges to implement changes. In due course you can expect some further
blogs as we keep you updated. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: calibri;">To make sure you don't miss future blogs you can subscribe
to our updates by entering your email address in the box on the right hand side
of this page. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: calibri;">If you'd like to see the original announcement from the
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government you can do so here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/longer-tenancy-plans-to-give-renters-more-security"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/longer-tenancy-plans-to-give-renters-more-security</span></a></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v4yDrB2TpI4/WwKhl9iYN8I/AAAAAAAABWA/eogfxmarJnwppBoS5HuHyQ08Ps0bFt7oQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/Lesley%2BProfile%2BBlogger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="1140" height="140" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v4yDrB2TpI4/WwKhl9iYN8I/AAAAAAAABWA/eogfxmarJnwppBoS5HuHyQ08Ps0bFt7oQCPcBGAYYCw/s640/Lesley%2BProfile%2BBlogger.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-5619784864764409162018-06-28T11:06:00.000+01:002018-06-28T11:06:44.548+01:00ARAG Legal Services - The easy way to keep your customers up to date on the latest legislation
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>If your client is a commercial policy holder they can get
access to our ARAG Legal Services website. Through this site we publish a
regular newsletter produced by Epoq with relevant updates to legislation that could
affect your clients. Here’s a sample from the latest newsletter:</i></span></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF6v62dq5Lz6tEXytz-MRUEkwSOSLNi3dsbdUo7XhSFkHnNvKHLEkXh59nTRJsKgudEgQa4qnp_3vOm4WCuR1iJoDdWvfpxn5OmICDee60IDWjqz6g6LQLOb-swRjg6OBQcnKegPolrQ2/s1600/shutterstock_731750047.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>Ignorance isn't always an excuse for disability discrimination</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF6v62dq5Lz6tEXytz-MRUEkwSOSLNi3dsbdUo7XhSFkHnNvKHLEkXh59nTRJsKgudEgQa4qnp_3vOm4WCuR1iJoDdWvfpxn5OmICDee60IDWjqz6g6LQLOb-swRjg6OBQcnKegPolrQ2/s1600/shutterstock_731750047.png" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img alt="Discrimination" border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="1600" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF6v62dq5Lz6tEXytz-MRUEkwSOSLNi3dsbdUo7XhSFkHnNvKHLEkXh59nTRJsKgudEgQa4qnp_3vOm4WCuR1iJoDdWvfpxn5OmICDee60IDWjqz6g6LQLOb-swRjg6OBQcnKegPolrQ2/s640/shutterstock_731750047.png" title="Discrimination" width="640" /></a></div>
There are several types of unlawful disability discrimination. One type is unfavourable treatment because of 'something' arising from a disability. This type of discrimination requires that the employer knows about the disability, and it's only unlawful if it can't be justified.<br />
<br />
The question in a recent case was whether the employer, in addition to knowing about the disability, has to know that the <i>something</i> arose from the disability in order to be found guilty of this type of disability discrimination. The Court of Appeal has recently given the answer: no – if the employer knows about the disability, they might be found to have discriminated even if they don't know about that disability's effects.<br />
<br />The claimant, a teacher, had cystic fibrosis, which the school was aware of when they appointed him. This condition causes mucus to build up in the lungs, and to counter that the teacher spent many hours each day in rigorous exercise. This meant he had less time to work than others, and so he had to get a lot done in a short time. When a new headteacher started, his workload increased. All things together meant he struggled to cope with the demands and became stressed.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYMMv57MArHRDi75HDKLhJ4K8QgPx6bkORvGhKL6y6MdXNJmG0EA4phx0PDe1D8WSWrWFiZIFDWJUq2WBUFL7RvfX6M9lcAXDgvPT6_FYhy2xxVINzzViJErkEHc4gL8XHcTpg_JvFhT2/s1600/shutterstock_595208990.png" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYMMv57MArHRDi75HDKLhJ4K8QgPx6bkORvGhKL6y6MdXNJmG0EA4phx0PDe1D8WSWrWFiZIFDWJUq2WBUFL7RvfX6M9lcAXDgvPT6_FYhy2xxVINzzViJErkEHc4gL8XHcTpg_JvFhT2/s1600/shutterstock_595208990.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />In this state of stress, he made the mistake of showing <i>Halloween</i>, an 18-rated film, to 15-16 year-olds. He was dismissed for that error of judgment.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYMMv57MArHRDi75HDKLhJ4K8QgPx6bkORvGhKL6y6MdXNJmG0EA4phx0PDe1D8WSWrWFiZIFDWJUq2WBUFL7RvfX6M9lcAXDgvPT6_FYhy2xxVINzzViJErkEHc4gL8XHcTpg_JvFhT2/s1600/shutterstock_595208990.png" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img alt="Stressed Teacher" border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYMMv57MArHRDi75HDKLhJ4K8QgPx6bkORvGhKL6y6MdXNJmG0EA4phx0PDe1D8WSWrWFiZIFDWJUq2WBUFL7RvfX6M9lcAXDgvPT6_FYhy2xxVINzzViJErkEHc4gL8XHcTpg_JvFhT2/s320/shutterstock_595208990.png" title="Stressed Teacher" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYMMv57MArHRDi75HDKLhJ4K8QgPx6bkORvGhKL6y6MdXNJmG0EA4phx0PDe1D8WSWrWFiZIFDWJUq2WBUFL7RvfX6M9lcAXDgvPT6_FYhy2xxVINzzViJErkEHc4gL8XHcTpg_JvFhT2/s1600/shutterstock_595208990.png" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><br />The school didn't know of the link between the teacher's condition and his actions – the medical evidence available at the time of the dismissal didn't demonstrate a link. The tribunal therefore found the teacher's dismissal not to be unfair, so his unfair dismissal claim failed.<br />
<br />
However, they upheld the claim for discrimination arising from a disability. Knowledge of the consequences of the disability weren't needed for that claim to succeed. Given that the tribunal didn't find the dismissal unfair, how could they also agree that there'd been discrimination?<br />
<br />The answer is that different tests are applied. For unfair dismissal, employers are given a lot of discretion. Tribunals take care not to ask what decision they would have made, but rather whether the employer's decision was within a range of reasonable responses. For this type of discrimination, on the other hand, the courts consider objectively whether an employer's action was a proportionate response to the claimant's actions. They noted, in particular, that if the school had made reasonable adjustments the teacher would not have been in that position.<br />
<br />
<h3>
What this means for you</h3>
<br />
This shows that you should consider all the consequences of your actions and, especially if an employee has a disability, you should actively consider reasonable adjustments. If you can justify all your actions you shouldn't be found guilty of any type of discrimination. <br />
<br />
<h3>
How we can help</h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsK3HoEwpsQch95td1gyPYXCccbShJCjkm80n_-gKBZDe7JLl-FsqoXVoDhbJsLdplfaoXN6rkKDeFo0KsPlNXZQj3jntWoy9trhH7TIPfTrNOdzGT2wz6adtJgffUfKpZbpo9tNS-Kn0/s1600/shutterstock_641226982.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<br />
If you need further information about an employee's health conditions, you may wish to use our <b>Letter to an employee seeking consent to a medical examination*</b>.<br />
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<img alt="Medical Examination" border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="1600" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsK3HoEwpsQch95td1gyPYXCccbShJCjkm80n_-gKBZDe7JLl-FsqoXVoDhbJsLdplfaoXN6rkKDeFo0KsPlNXZQj3jntWoy9trhH7TIPfTrNOdzGT2wz6adtJgffUfKpZbpo9tNS-Kn0/s640/shutterstock_641226982.png" title="Medical Examination" width="640" /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrsK3HoEwpsQch95td1gyPYXCccbShJCjkm80n_-gKBZDe7JLl-FsqoXVoDhbJsLdplfaoXN6rkKDeFo0KsPlNXZQj3jntWoy9trhH7TIPfTrNOdzGT2wz6adtJgffUfKpZbpo9tNS-Kn0/s1600/shutterstock_641226982.png" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><i><span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>To get access to the ARAG Legal Services website all your customers need to do is go to <a href="http://www.araglegal.co.uk/">www.araglegal.co.uk</a> and register, using the voucher code printed on their policy wording. Once there they will be able to sign up for the newsletter, read old issues and access the library of form letters and other helpful resources.</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="background-color: yellow;"></span><b></b><br /></i>
<i>*This letter is also available on the ARAG Legal Services site to commercial policy holders. </i>ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-22898306770537129712018-06-25T11:44:00.002+01:002018-06-25T13:01:58.825+01:00Have you and your clients registered with our Business Legal services website to receive free monthly business law bulletins?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This month’s bulletin is out. Subscribers can read about
“last straw” resignations – which can expose businesses to claims for unfair
dismissal, get practical advice and brush up on disability discrimination law and
there’s also an item on planning law.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">To receive our monthly business law bulletins, you will need
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-18031279000091134942018-06-21T15:16:00.000+01:002018-06-22T11:48:39.500+01:00D-ARAG-ON RACERS!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRIqHOVlKtOzREDV5eodGKzh0xTL_3TQ2RdQ0Wcf_tyCVHccGPGFYHKaB9vmJ_K3Z4iTxp2QUBbG0jlNJSXQRHbYkTNGFDcAxoQc9cGjGmkUjqydLYZaevZo1yQhQroXLbnbhgk0Z4-tF/s1600/D-ARAG-ON+Headers.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRIqHOVlKtOzREDV5eodGKzh0xTL_3TQ2RdQ0Wcf_tyCVHccGPGFYHKaB9vmJ_K3Z4iTxp2QUBbG0jlNJSXQRHbYkTNGFDcAxoQc9cGjGmkUjqydLYZaevZo1yQhQroXLbnbhgk0Z4-tF/s640/D-ARAG-ON+Headers.png" width="640" /></a>
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<h3 style="margin: 16px 0px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On Sunday the 10th of June our team of Viking
warriors, the D-ARAG-ON RACERS, took part in the <a href="https://www.bristolrotarydragons.org/" target="_blank">Bristol Dragon Boat Festival</a>. This
festival is an annual event organised by the Rotary Club of Bristol in order to raise money for Caring in Bristol, a charity to benefit the
homeless.</span><br /><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnMhKtx109GWCRcPeFpCn3ivaF7qcdi20xZtZ_A-qeLLOM-EkY90NNmK7RQJZm20mRFgW4LW3e3uGodDN6qseAA5Qyhb63uqX-NhzV96CrmM_We57xg5o0ZznKvsHWiBzu-pATe4yACDN/s1600/20180610113926_IMG_1317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnMhKtx109GWCRcPeFpCn3ivaF7qcdi20xZtZ_A-qeLLOM-EkY90NNmK7RQJZm20mRFgW4LW3e3uGodDN6qseAA5Qyhb63uqX-NhzV96CrmM_We57xg5o0ZznKvsHWiBzu-pATe4yACDN/s320/20180610113926_IMG_1317.jpg" width="212" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigG39gmQuUtk7MEdNsS5lPhSmkueAzWkwkG__xlumLJ6cxc2iioE8YOr1BWE1Yp8g74lI7EGi7AzY7LuOgPgjjtR-73LErqiMItPL_pmBS44_razqoy4BtCuCE7n4ce3-mY1TXg9CsFnjj/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">After weeks of training an elite team of 20 D-ARAG-ONS took
to the high seas (well, the Bristol harbour) and raced against 29 other teams
to see who could cover 200m in as short a time as possible. We had three
attempts at this and got better with every run. Our final round we were over <b>5
seconds faster</b> than the first!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">Whilst we came 27<sup><span style="font-size: xx-small;">th</span></sup> out of 30 we still had a
great time on the day, raising money for Caring in Bristol and our charity of
the year Focus. We managed to raise £1,182.50 (including Gift Aid) in advance and even more on the day in cash donations from fans and supporters.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigG39gmQuUtk7MEdNsS5lPhSmkueAzWkwkG__xlumLJ6cxc2iioE8YOr1BWE1Yp8g74lI7EGi7AzY7LuOgPgjjtR-73LErqiMItPL_pmBS44_razqoy4BtCuCE7n4ce3-mY1TXg9CsFnjj/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="979" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigG39gmQuUtk7MEdNsS5lPhSmkueAzWkwkG__xlumLJ6cxc2iioE8YOr1BWE1Yp8g74lI7EGi7AzY7LuOgPgjjtR-73LErqiMItPL_pmBS44_razqoy4BtCuCE7n4ce3-mY1TXg9CsFnjj/s320/2.jpg" width="192" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigG39gmQuUtk7MEdNsS5lPhSmkueAzWkwkG__xlumLJ6cxc2iioE8YOr1BWE1Yp8g74lI7EGi7AzY7LuOgPgjjtR-73LErqiMItPL_pmBS44_razqoy4BtCuCE7n4ce3-mY1TXg9CsFnjj/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">We also had an ARAG yellow gazebo set up by the water all day with our Head
of<b style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></b><i style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></i><u style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></u><sub style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></sub><sup style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></sup><strike style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: line-through; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></strike> Sales, Andy Talbot, flipping burgers for hours on end to keep the hungry
D-ARAG-ONS and their friends and family fuelled up for the races.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">It was a really great day, with fantastic weather and a lot
of fun had by all. And we were watching the techniques of the best teams, so
we’ll do much better next time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;">If you'd like to donate towards this great cause you can do so by <a href="https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=daragonracers&isTeam=true" target="_blank">clicking here to go to our Virgin Money Giving page</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQOTD1wdOac" target="_blank"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQOTD1wdOac" target="_blank">Click here to watch the team warming up!</a></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-49373581237207267212018-06-04T12:15:00.001+01:002018-06-04T17:02:32.508+01:00What has legal protection got to offer the insurtechs?<span style="font-size: large;"><b>ARAG has done a succession of deals with new partners in the
insurtech sector, but what does the legal expenses provider have to offer these
innovative start-ups that is so attractive?</b></span><br />
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<b></b><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><b></b><b></b><b></b><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s hard to open a magazine (well… email) these days, without
seeing the word ‘insurtech’. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">There’s certainly a buzz around the term. Even just the names
of some of the businesses have the air of innovation about them: Neos,
Homelyfe, Cuvva, Dinghy et al.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, as is so often the case, the term 'insurtech' covers a
multitude of innovations. Some are more concerned with how insurance is bought
and sold. For others, technology offers a key to managing risk or reducing the
impact of claims.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, how does ARAG fit into all of this, and why are we doing
so many deals with insurtech businesses.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">First and foremost, ARAG offers flexibility. The legal
expenses sector never used to be known for it’s innovation, with providers
competing largely on price to deliver a one-size-fits-all, take-it-or-leave-it
solution.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">The stack-it-high-sell-it-cheap proposition still dominates
the market, but it simply doesn’t work for most insurtech businesses, that need
legal expenses and assistance solutions that fit perfectly with their products,
policyholders and business models.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">For Neos, the insurer that uses “smart home” technology to
help either prevent claims or reduce their impact, the flexibility needed was
all around the claims process and how ARAG’s home assistance service could
integrate seamlessly into their operations to help lessen the cost of claims by
minimising the damage that incidents might cause.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another quality that insurtech business often look far is
agility. It’s one thing to be able to tailor our products to the needs of our
clients but, if it took us 12 months to get our operational or IT ducks in a
row, then most start-ups will have long since walked away.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our products have their own technological innovations too.
Many brokers and their clients have been surprised by the sophistication of our
ARAG Legal Services website with its digital legal document building tools for
personal policyholders and businesses.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">But ARAG’s recent successes in the insurtech sector are
actually the product of something we’ve been doing since day one, which is
building products that work for our partners and their clients and not trying
to sell them a product that just works for us.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "cambria" , serif; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-65254195545427069082018-05-21T14:20:00.003+01:002018-05-21T14:20:32.591+01:00Report publication: Small claims limit for personal injury <br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Last Thursday
the Justice Select Committee published their small claims limit for
personal injury report. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The report
makes a number of conclusions and recommendations. The Select Committee
raised concerns about increasing the small claims limit for personal injury:
while the Ministry of Justice is making efforts to develop an electronic
platform supplemented by guidance and support for unrepresented claimants, the
committee is concerned that we this ambitious project risks falling short of
creating a claims process that guarantees “unimpeded access to the courts”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">You can read
the <span style="background-color: yellow; color: blue;"><a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/justice-committee/news-parliament-2017/small-claims-limit-personal-injury-report-published-17-19/" target="_blank">press release</a></span> associated with the report, and the r<a href="https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmjust/659/659.pdf" style="background-color: yellow;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">eport</span> itself</a> on the MOJ’s website.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0Bristol, UK51.454513 -2.587909999999965351.296248 -2.9106334999999652 51.612778 -2.2651864999999654tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-53914146480989489142018-05-21T12:24:00.000+01:002018-05-21T12:40:53.449+01:00ARAG Legal Services & GDPR<br />
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We have had a number of queries about GDPR and what help is available to Policyholders on our Legal Services website. The team behind the website has been busy working on changes and enhancements to ensure that the service we provide to customers is GDPR compliant. While some changes are already in place others will go live from the 22nd of May.</div>
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Changes to legal content – documents and law guide</h3>
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<br />Business Legal Services</h4>
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<br />Employment</h4>
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•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>We’ve updated the employment contracts so they’re compliant with the GDPR and – when it comes into effect – the new Data Protection Act.</div>
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•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>All supporting recruitment documents have been reviewed to help employers fulfil their data protection obligations when receiving personal information from job applicants.</div>
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•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The Employee handbook now features a detailed Data Protection policy, outlining a business’s data protection responsibilities and how their staff should help ensure they’re met.</div>
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•<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>There is also a new Privacy notice for employers to give to existing and prospective staff, ensuring they’re given the requisite information about what personal data of theirs the employer holds.</div>
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<b style="background-color: yellow;">Updated documents:</b> Consultancy agreement, Criminal convictions declaration form for job applicants, Employee handbook, Employment agreement, Employment statement, Executive director’s service agreement, Fixed-term employment agreement, General purpose reference request letter, General purpose rejection letter, Interview checklist, Job application form, Job description, Job offer letter, Licence for an employee to occupy residential accommodation, Licence to occupy business premises, New employee induction checklist, Service occupancy agreement (Scotland), Zero-hours agreement</div>
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E-commerce</h4>
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The Privacy and cookie policy for a website has been overhauled, giving users the opportunity to fully outline what categories of information they capture via their website, what they do with it and their reasons behind it. To be more in keeping with the GDPR terminology, we’ve renamed the document Privacy and cookie notice for a website. However, its purpose remains the same.</div>
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The related website terms and conditions documents have also been updated with the GDPR in mind.</div>
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Landlords Legal Services</h4>
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Both commercial and private residential landlords fall under the scope of the GDPR. They will need to give their tenants information about the personal data they hold and what they’ll do with it. A new privacy notice for landlords has been created to fulfil this purpose, and we’ve added guidance to the documents listed below to help landlords understand their obligations.</div>
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<b style="background-color: yellow;">Updated documents:</b> Agreement for a landlord to share a house/flat, Agreement to let a room to a lodger on a serviced basis, Assured shorthold tenancy agreement, Letter from landlord confirming status of tenant, Medium term lease of commercial premises with rent review, Private residential tenancy agreement (Scotland), Residential tenancy agreement (Northern Ireland), Short term lease of commercial premises with no rent review</div>
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Law guides</h4>
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GDPR-related information is being added to the following law guides:</div>
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Ecommerce, Employment, Landlords, Property, Purchase & Sales, Workplace</div>
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Changes to websites and operational procedures</h3>
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Consent for use of data</h4>
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The data we process in order to fulfil our service is almost all provided to us under the GDPR lawful basis of ‘Contract’, meaning that the data that customers provide is necessary in order for us to fulfil our obligations to them. However, when customers register to use a website for the first time, we ask them to provide specific ‘consent’ to use their data for some purposes. For Business customers This is to receive a business bulletin. As we cannot presume any previously supplied consent is still valid this must be reset and collected again. </div>
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We have amended our registration form to capture consent in a more granular way, as required under the GDPR, and to tell customers how they can update their preferences. We have also updated the summary privacy notice included on the registration form:</div>
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Going forward, all existing consent responses will be reset to ‘No’ in our databases, and customers will be prompted to opt in again when they next visit the site. </div>
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Timestamps for consent collection</h4>
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As required by the GDPR, at all points where consent is collected electronically, this will be timestamped and versioned, so that there is an exact record of what a client consented to and when this took place. </div>
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Data Protection Policies</h4>
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All data protection/privacy policies that our website supplier maintains or controls will be updated to better explain who the data controller is and to adopt a friendlier format, with a hyperlinked list of sections at the start of the document. Links to the Data Protection Policy will also be displayed more prominently on the website as part of the registration process.</div>
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Terms of use</h4>
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All website terms of use will be updated to show GDPR data, including reference to the Data Protection policy.</div>
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We hope Policyholders find all of these changes helpful and that they feel supported in meeting the new GDPR obligations. </div>
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(Details of GDPR updates described in this Blog have been supplied by the team behind our legal services website). </div>
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ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0Bristol, UK51.454513 -2.587909999999965351.296248 -2.9106334999999652 51.612778 -2.2651864999999654tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-86489666402166016042018-05-10T12:09:00.001+01:002018-05-10T12:09:17.746+01:00MoJ gears up for surge in employment tribunal cases<br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><b>Barrister Daniel Barnett’s latest news wire asserts that the Ministry of Justice is looking to appoint 54 employment judges across England & Wales. </b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0St54GcSHSHcSbrv_yUi4E6KyhB7HJ98tspBC3Qvrr4zfaxgHCkgXQzjxfu0oGcNNdvJY0zQFJOu5BunFtJfg1uuUnZMd516bwp8KvURxMAoB4PbixelEaMbL0eao8b36MFRc89b6Tnlp/s1600/jac.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0St54GcSHSHcSbrv_yUi4E6KyhB7HJ98tspBC3Qvrr4zfaxgHCkgXQzjxfu0oGcNNdvJY0zQFJOu5BunFtJfg1uuUnZMd516bwp8KvURxMAoB4PbixelEaMbL0eao8b36MFRc89b6Tnlp/s1600/jac.JPG" /></a><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">The new appointments will be announced in January 2019, although they are unlikely to take up work immediately as there will need to be training and induction first. <br />DB goes on to comment that he has been told, informally, that the Ministry of Justice intends to launch a second recruitment round for fee-paid employment judges, once this recruitment round is complete.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: 13.3333px;"><a href="https://www.judicialappointments.gov.uk/vacancies/122">https://www.judicialappointments.gov.uk/vacancies/122</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">Against a back ground of cuts elsewhere within the Justice system, the recruitment campaign for Employment judges clearly corroborates the increase in claims volumes that we have seen since employment tribunal fees were abolished. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">By way of a reminder, the number of single claims increased over the same quarter for the previous year by 64% for Q3 and 90% for Q4 (according to HM Court & Tribunal Services statistics). The next statistical release for Q1 2018 is expected in June so watch this space for further comment.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfiInYhdf9N1_u-e6VCNsyipjY-G1GvkRCEkbpcFbzL7rNGyJDo2SjbHVB3EANwXD_tUEmX-h-Af3Lp9QvRX_IGinAem8_5xZjrDYPg_sRWbmjx79oRuQQ9zYEdiLQGv1f8fi6OsU8_K3/s1600/Lesley+Profile+Blogger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="1140" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfiInYhdf9N1_u-e6VCNsyipjY-G1GvkRCEkbpcFbzL7rNGyJDo2SjbHVB3EANwXD_tUEmX-h-Af3Lp9QvRX_IGinAem8_5xZjrDYPg_sRWbmjx79oRuQQ9zYEdiLQGv1f8fi6OsU8_K3/s640/Lesley+Profile+Blogger.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0Bristol, UK51.454513 -2.587909999999965351.296248 -2.9106334999999652 51.612778 -2.2651864999999654tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-84959780194047053582018-04-24T10:23:00.000+01:002018-04-24T10:23:35.365+01:00LEI : Are you making the most of this opportunity to differentiate yourself?<br />
Whether it is serving the needs of commercial, motor or household customers, legal expenses<br />
insurance (LEI) is now a key part of the business proposition for many insurance brokers.<br />
The cover can be sold on a stand-alone basis, but in most cases is offered alongside household,<br />
motor, commercial and landlords’ policies and is an affordable extension that typically includes<br />
indemnity against the cost of common legal disputes as well as advice helplines and access to<br />
online legal documents.<br />
<br />
A legal matter can surface unexpectedly and there can be enormous reassurance in having<br />
taken out LEI, often on the advice of a broker. But, given that legal risks change, are there<br />
sufficient levels of understanding among brokers? To gain greater understanding of the sector,<br />
Insurance Post and specialist LEI provider ARAG have recently conducted a major research<br />
project with brokers to find out more about this market.<br />
<br />
Certainly, without cover, many clients could find it more difficult to meet potentially high legal<br />
costs, and indeed, even know where to find a solicitor with relevant experience. However, LEI<br />
takes pressures away and is typically available at affordable prices, and can be tailored to meet<br />
individual needs.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" allowtransparency="" frameborder="0" height="50px" src="https://anyflip.com/plugin/Embed/dist/html/embed-button.html#!/?g=#f6e000&c=#000000&s=18&b=0&i=0&t=Click here to see our research >&p=1&l=https://s3.amazonaws.com/online.anyflip.com/jhsj/elya/index.html" width="285px"></iframe>
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<br />ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0Bristol, UK51.454513 -2.587909999999965351.296248 -2.9106334999999652 51.612778 -2.2651864999999654tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-21334862765195810182018-03-14T12:01:00.000+00:002018-03-14T12:02:08.470+00:00ARAG Legal Services website - Free Business Bulletins PART 2<br />
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I hope your
clients have rushed to register to use <span style="background-color: yellow; color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">> <a href="https://araglegal.secureclient.co.uk/arag/" style="color: #989898; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">araglegal.co.uk </a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">, </span>following my earlier blog, in which I provided information about the General Data
Protection Regulations, extracted from the Business bulletin which is produced by
the team behind our Business Legal Services website.</h4>
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I explained that in addition to maintaining the law guide
and creating on-line legal documents for clients to customise to their own
circumstances, our content team also publish topical Business Bulletins. Once
registered with the site, customers can opt- in to receive these.</h4>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s a second
chance for you to encourage clients to register. Below is an extract from a
recent bulletin on employment cases. Take a minute to send this to your clients
with a reminder of their voucher code and encourage them to register on the
Business Legal Services website to receive information like this in the future.
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Employment case law
update</b></h3>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Disability
legislation applies if impairment could lead to disability, say EAT</span></b></h4>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Equality Act makes it unlawful to
treat someone with a disability less favourably than others in<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">similar circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What if they have a minor impairment
that doesn't affect their day-to-day activities, but you're<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">worried it might become worse and then
amount to a disability and affect their ability to do the job?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Is it safer to dismiss them at this
stage so you can avoid having to grapple with the Equality Act?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT)
recently considered this issue. A police officer had<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">applied to transfer to another role.
She had a hearing impairment that did not affect daily activities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The constabulary was worried that it
might become worse and therefore rejected her application. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The EAT decided that this was unlawful
discrimination. How did they reach that conclusion?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Progressive
conditions</span></b></h3>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Disability is defined as an impairment
that has a substantial and long-term effect on the ability to<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">carry out daily activities. However,
the Equality Act explicitly says that if a condition doesn't yet<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">have a substantial effect but is
likely to get worse so that it does, that's considered to be a disability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Perceived
disability discrimination</span></b></h3>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Equality Act also protects people
who are perceived to have the quality in question. For<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">example, it would be sexual
orientation discrimination to treat someone less favourably than others<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">because you incorrectly think they are
homosexual.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
reasoning in this recent case</span></b></h3>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This decision was based on these two
points. The employer perceived the employee to have a<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">progressive condition, and treated her
less favourably for that reason.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We sometimes see this in relation to
stress: an employer dismisses before the condition becomes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">depression. This decision means that's
unlawful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What this
means for you</span></b></h3>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We understand that the constabulary's
appealing to the Court of Appeal, so the law on this may be<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">refined. However, for now you should
assume this is the law. In other words, you can't avoid the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Equality Act by acting quickly, before
a condition gets worse and amounts to a disability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How we can
help</span></b></h3>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you think that an employee or an
applicant may have a disability, you're expected to make<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">reasonable adjustments so that they
can continue in their position. Our <b>Employee Handbook </b>and in<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">particular its <b>Equal opportunities
policy </b>cover reasonable adjustments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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This Blog features legal content from Epoq Legal services,
creators of ARAG Business Legal Services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<br />ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-41454297356468364752018-03-12T16:36:00.000+00:002018-03-12T16:36:01.927+00:00Here today, gone tomorrow<h3 style="line-height: normal; margin: 7px 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;">Following last month’s news of the collapse of
CBL Insurance</span><span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;">and the subsequent failure of Denmark’s Alpha
Insurance</span>, <span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;">Head
of Sales Andy Talbot</span>, <span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;">considers where the next legal expenses underwriting failure may occur</span>.</h3>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 7px 0px;">
<br /></div>
<h4>
In 2016, it was AU Insurance Services. Last summer, it was Elite Insurance Company.
Already in 2018, New Zealand’s CBL Insurance Limited has collapsed leaving
Alpha Insurance A/S in solvent liquidation and run-off.</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAwtaEtnOq12YS3Mjk0o4nOKN_gcYdogNZNo3k8QeNcVN_gjjlmYzr9Bca1JFJ-xAm4QB3_P0XRA8FwCTHEr8l5W8CBFuwwJzLTRPmv-MsOcU78n2SYI6kIk2TyHzmVaLiLxLolwbJwG0/s1600/shutterstock_559731250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFAwtaEtnOq12YS3Mjk0o4nOKN_gcYdogNZNo3k8QeNcVN_gjjlmYzr9Bca1JFJ-xAm4QB3_P0XRA8FwCTHEr8l5W8CBFuwwJzLTRPmv-MsOcU78n2SYI6kIk2TyHzmVaLiLxLolwbJwG0/s320/shutterstock_559731250.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;">Often, it seems, these failures
impacting the legal expenses sector get associated with the ATE market, somehow
remote from the majority of brokers. But most legal expenses underwriters,
wherever they are based, will have feet in both ATE and BTE camps.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;">Alpha is a case in point, having
underwritten numerous motor legal protection and other policies for brokers
around the country, as well as some ATE business.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;">The precise causes and circumstances
of these failures (and the several others that have occurred in between them)
may be very different, but they have all left brokers, other intermediaries and
their clients in the lurch.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;">In most cases, clients are unlikely
to be impacted if a change of underwriter is forced on their insurance
provider. Some consolation for brokers who have to go back to the market, find
a new underwriter or product and undertake all the subsequent work that such
failures inevitably trigger.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;">What is troubling is the frequency
with which such failures seem to be occurring. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;">The legal expenses insurance market
has not been an easy one in recent years. Increased regulation, LASPO, numerous
other legislative changes and even the succession of IPT rate increases have
all put pressure on smaller LEI providers. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;">Some underwriters have also been
more vulnerable to the impact of continued uncertainty over EEA passporting
rules,</span><span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;">resulting from</span><span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;">the </span><span lang="ES-TRAD" style="margin: 0px;">Brexit</span><span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;"> vote,
and there are likely to be more legislative changes to come. Proposals to
change the way “whiplash” claims are handled and raise small claims court
limits could seriously undermine the business models of some LEI providers and
trouble their underwriters.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;">Brokers have good reason to be
cautious. Alpha Insurance is only the latest underwriter to exit the legal
expenses market. It is highly unlikely to be the last.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;">How and when the next legal expenses
underwriter will leave the market is inevitably hard to predict, but brokers
owe it to themselves at least, to minimise the risk of finding themselves in a
similar situation over the coming months.</span></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;">Very few law firms will have the
knowledge of insurance markets that most brokers do, so it may be hard for them
to understand and calculate the risk. Brokers, on the other hand, should be
much more adept at asking the right sort of questions, not just of their
immediate provider but the ultimate underwriter too.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;">Who is this policy underwritten by?
Where are they based? Who regulates them and what sort of scrutiny do they come
under? Are they independently rated by a credible agency? How much experience do
they have writing this sort of business?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;">Thankfully, it seems that Alpha’s
departure and run-off will, like Elite’s before it, be orderly. The underwriter
appears solvent and seems capable of meeting its obligations. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="margin: 0px;">Next time, we may not be so lucky.</span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xxKyBD-AigA/WqaN6fE6s9I/AAAAAAAABT8/AVnyPhR1Z7E-hOhTHuR5-kJY6jfx0OcawCLcBGAs/s1600/Andy%2BProfile%2BBlogger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="1140" height="139" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xxKyBD-AigA/WqaN6fE6s9I/AAAAAAAABT8/AVnyPhR1Z7E-hOhTHuR5-kJY6jfx0OcawCLcBGAs/s640/Andy%2BProfile%2BBlogger.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-26648056153748500012018-03-12T14:20:00.001+00:002018-03-12T14:20:52.204+00:00Care Providers & the National Minimum Wage <h4>
This blog is aimed at Care Provider Legal Solutions Policyholders and agents who specialise in the care sector. I would like to share with you a Government briefing document that summarises recent developments relating to payment of the national minimum wage for sleep-in care duties. <a href="http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8243/CBP-8243.pdf" target="_blank">Here is a link to the document</a> and my summary is below. </h4>
<br />
<h4>
Back ground</h4>
<br />
The Royal Mencap Society v Tomlinson-Blake case considered whether sleeping during a shift should be deemed as “work” for the purpose of applying National Minimum Wage (NMW) regulations.<br />
<br />
In April 2017 the Employment Appeal Tribunal handed down judgment which, held that, in some cases, carers who are required to be present throughout the night will be entitled to the NMW whether awake or asleep. The briefing document summarises this case and others. <br />
<br />
<h4>
Consequences of breaching NMW</h4>
<br />
To obtain backdated wages if underpaid, an employee can take a claim to the employment tribunal or the country court. If a worker is successful in his NMW claim, he could be owed up to six years’ back pay. HMRC enforces the NMW on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). If HMRC finds that an employer has underpaid worker(s), it will fine the employer, require it to provide back pay to affected workers, and name and shame them via a press release.<br />
<br />
<h4>
<br />Relief for social care employers</h4>
<br />
Given the potential impact on the social care sector the HMRC has, until 31 March 2019, modified its approach to enforcement by launching the Social Care Compliance Scheme (SCCS). Subject to certain criteria, employers who have opted into the scheme can have financial penalties in relation to under payment of sleep-in shifts prior to 26 July 2017 waived and will escape “public naming and shaming”. Details of the SCCS scheme are here. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tell-hmrc-if-youve-underpaid-national-minimum-wage-in-the-social-care-sector">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tell-hmrc-if-youve-underpaid-national-minimum-wage-in-the-social-care-sector</a><br />
Nothing in the scheme prevents individual workers taking their own legal action (whether in the Employment Tribunal or Court) to recover arrears owing to them.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Staying compliant</h4>
<br />
No single factor is determinative and the weight each factor carries (if any) will vary according to the facts of the particular case however a key point is that “where specific hours at a particular place are required, upon the pain of discipline if they are not spent at that place, and the worker is at the disposal of the employer during that period, it will normally constitute time work”.<br />
The briefing note sets out potentially relevant factors in determining whether a person is working by being present. Full enforcement guidance is here. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/656568/nmw-enforcement-beis_-_policy_doc_-_full_vFINAL__3_.pdf" target="_blank"> https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/656568/nmw-enforcement-beis_-_policy_doc_-_full_vFINAL__3_.pdf</a><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RIYhpbzMxnk/WqZ5Os2XDOI/AAAAAAAABTs/CN8Vq1kjbv4-gecn-ZHe0DLsjzgtqVwfwCLcBGAs/s1600/Lesley%2BProfile%2BBlogger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="1140" height="140" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RIYhpbzMxnk/WqZ5Os2XDOI/AAAAAAAABTs/CN8Vq1kjbv4-gecn-ZHe0DLsjzgtqVwfwCLcBGAs/s640/Lesley%2BProfile%2BBlogger.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom55.378051 -3.4359729999999912.203021 -86.05316049999999 90 79.18121450000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7464208013779715820.post-82681854207046860372018-03-07T12:34:00.001+00:002018-03-07T12:57:10.515+00:00ARAG Legal Services website - Free Business Bulletins<br />
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<h4>
If your clients/policyholders have an ARAG policy and have
not yet registered to use <span style="background-color: yellow;">> <a href="https://araglegal.secureclient.co.uk/arag/" target="_blank">araglegal.co.uk </a></span>, they could be
missing out on lots of useful information. <br />In addition to maintaining the law
guide and creating online legal documents for clients to customise to their own
circumstances, the team behind our Legal Services website also publish topical
Business Bulletins. Once registered with the site, customers can opt- in to
receive these.</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">General Data
Protection Regulations</b></h4>
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For this first blog I’ve extracted some content about the
General Data Protection Regulations from a recent business bulletin. Why not
send this to clients with a reminder of their voucher code and encourage them
to register on the Business Legal Services website to receive information like
this in the future. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<h4>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Introduction</b></h4>
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The Data Protection Act 2018 will implement provisions of
the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) into domestic law in the UK. The
Bill is currently bobbing along through Parliament and will be passed into law
to take effect from 25 May 2018.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<h4 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">GDPR: how
to demonstrate accountability</span></b></h4>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">GDPR imposes an obligation on those
who control other people's personal data. Data controllers must be able to <b>demonstrate
compliance </b>with 6 essential principles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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In summary, these principles are that
<span style="background-color: yellow;">personal data must be</span>:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1. processed lawfully, fairly and
transparently;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2. collected only for specified
legitimate purposes;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3. adequate and relevant, but limited
to what's necessary for your stated purpose for processing it;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">4. accurate and kept up to date;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">5. kept for no longer than necessary
for the stated purpose;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">6. processed in a way that is secure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What does it mean, in practice, to be
able to demonstrate compliance with these principles?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Most importantly, you must have
appropriate data protection policies and procedures. You may be a<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">very fair person and only ever process
data lawfully, fairly and transparently (as required by the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">GDPR). But if you don't have policies
and procedures, you won't be able to demonstrate that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You'll also have to be able to
demonstrate that you correctly implement your policies and procedures and that
you have effective compliance measures endorsed by the highest level of </span>management in your business. You'll
also have to provide training so that all staff understand what it means to be compliant with data
protection principles, and you'll need policies for dealing with poor compliance and data breaches.</div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Information Commissioner's Office
says that, where appropriate, appointing a data </span>protection officer (DPO) is necessary
for demonstrating accountability. Businesses must appoint a DPO if their core activities
include: <span style="text-indent: -18pt;">regular and systematic monitoring of
individuals on a large scale; or </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">large-scale processing of information relating
to criminal offences or 'special categories' – i.e. sensitive information on 8
specific topics, such as racial origin or political beliefs</span><span style="font-family: "timesnewromanpsmt"; font-size: 13pt; text-indent: -18pt;">.</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We expect most SMEs will not have to
appoint a DPO. However, we'd suggest you choose someone to oversee data
protection anyway, to help you demonstrate accountability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Article 30 of the GDPR describes the
records of data processing activities that you must keep. For<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">example, the record must include your
name and contact details, the purposes of the processing and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">any recipients of the processing. In
effect, this amounts to a data protection audit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you employ fewer than 250
employees, you might not have to comply with Article 30. However,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the duty to be able to demonstrate
compliance applies to all businesses that control data, so if your<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">business does then we'd suggest you
conduct a data protection audit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What this
means for you<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If your business controls personal
information you must act fairly and in line with the principles of the GDPR.
You must also be able to demonstrate this. How you do that will depend on your
business and the personal information you control. At the very least,
appropriate data protection policies and procedures will help. You should,
however, also conduct an audit of the personal information that your business
receives and processes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How we can
help<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our <b>Privacy and cookie policy for a
website </b>will help if you have a website through which you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">capture customer information. We also
have an <b>Employee handbook </b>that instructs staff about the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">data protection principles and their
obligations. Both documents are compliant with the current Data Protection Act,
but we're currently working to update them for the GDPR.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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This Blog features legal content from Epoq Legal services,
creators of ARAG Business Legal Services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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Watch out for my second blog with some more extracts for
you/your clients on employment law updates.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />ARAG Press Officehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05669457249347278773noreply@blogger.com0Bristol, UK51.454513 -2.587909999999965351.296248 -2.9106334999999652 51.612778 -2.2651864999999654