Karen Collins

The GDPR should not thwart a sensible approach to COVID-19 concerns

A disease that few of us had even heard of until recently has now become the main topic of conversation in workplaces and homes. Given how quickly COVID-19 can spread it’s no surprise that employers are introducing measures to prevent the disease causing serious problems to their day to day activities as well as taking …
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Acquiring and investing in B Corps – our top tips

If you’re considering acquiring or investing in a B Corporation, then this guide is for you. We set out the key things you should consider before starting the process.
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Helping young people in care

We have provided young people in the social care system with the advice and assistance necessary to resolve their immigration status for good, enabling them to live in the UK with the same opportunities as their peers. What happened? We were contacted by a local authority concerned about a child in their care, Maria. Maria …
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Transgender inclusion and beliefs

Some employees, volunteers and beneficiaries who object to a charity’s transgender inclusion policies say that their objections are based on their ‘gender critical beliefs’. In the second of our series of articles on transgender inclusion and the law, Mindy Jhittay explores the relationship between transgender inclusion and beliefs.
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Coronavirus and serious incident reporting (SIR) for charities

The Charity Commission requires charities to report actual or alleged serious incidents. Serious incident reports (SIRs) should be a prompt and open report to the Charity Commission which details what happened and the approach in which the charity is taking to deal with the serious incident. What is a serious incident? Serious incidences are defined …
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Virtual meetings

In the current crisis, charities have had to adapt rapidly to ensure decisions can be made without face-to-face meetings. It is the ideal time to future-proof your governing document so you can meet virtually. Leona Roche and Oliver Hunt highlight the key issues to consider so that your trustee board and (if applicable) your members …
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Charity Insolvency and Rescue Mechanisms: A Coronavirus Guide

Click here to see our downloadable guide on Charity Insolvency and Rescue Mechanisms. Background BackgroundThis brief guide should be read in conjunction with our general guide on managing solvency in a crisis, which can be found here: https://bateswells.co.uk/2020/03/charity-governance-and-solvency-a-coronavirus-guide/.This guide assumes that you have serious concerns about the solvency of your charity and may need to …
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Bates Wells publishes Gender Pay Report 2019

Today we publish the ‘Bates Wells Gender Pay Report 2019’, our annual analysis of our gender pay data and what we plan to do to address our gender pay gap. At Bates Wells, we are motivated and driven by our purpose and values. We believe in creating a workplace that is fair, inclusive and allows …
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COVID-19: New guidance from UKVI

UKVI has released additional guidance for a number of sectors and visa categories in connection with COVID-19, although in many cases this still leaves a range of issues and questions unanswered. NHS workers Doctors, nurses and paramedics whose visas are due to expire before 1st October 2020 will have their visas automatically extended for one …
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Casual Workers – are charities allowed to make discretionary payments?

Charities have had to made the tough decision in the current climate to cease engaging the services of some or all of their casual workers Some of the charity staff may be regular and longstanding members of staff (albeit without the level of legal protection enjoyed by the organisation’s employees). The charity may wish to …
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The coronavirus and its impact on the workplace: Victoria Cook offers guidance on how employers can respond

Following the coronavirus outbreak, employers are exploring ways in which they can prepare to meet the challenges likely to emerge over the coming weeks. Here, Victoria Cook provides a concise summary of how employers can respond to this ongoing issue. As an employer, you have a duty to take steps that are reasonably necessary to …
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Victoria Cook speaks to People Management on how HR teams can prepare for impact of coronavirus on their workplace

Victoria Cook, Senior Associate in Bates Wells’ employment team, has provided commentary to People Management on what employers can do to put themselves in the best position to deal with coronavirus’ impact on the workplace. With many employers now tempted to take far-reaching decisions in light of the virus’ spread, Victoria explains how important it …
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