The Most Important Things to Know About Employment Law.

 Employment laws are important because they help to assure fair play.

 If you are an employer, and have had to deal with workers for any length of time, you may well feel that the human race in general is lazy, deceitful and greedy. On the other hand if you have been in the work force as an employee for any length of time you may well suspect that a significant number of business owners would vote to repeal the amendment that outlawed slavery if they thought they could get away with it.

 Employers and employees don't always take such nasty views of each other of course. However, employment laws help to assure fairness in the work place by making it illegal to treat some people worse than others. It protects employers from incompetent or malicious employees. Employment law serves the country as a whole by trying to make sure that everyone is treated fairly in that place we spend so much of our waking hours; the work place.

 Individual states, and even local governments, can and do have their own laws regarding employment practices. For example, some localities may include sexual orientation or marriage status in a list of groups or classes protected against discrimination although the federal government does not, at this time do so. Still, over the years a number of significant acts pertaining to employment law have come out of Washington. Let's look at just a few.

 1) The Civil Rights Act of 1866. This prohibited discrimination based on race in regard to contracts entered between an employer and employee, specifically meaning hiring and firing. The date is significant, of course, since the civil war had ended just the year before. One result of the civil war had been the end of slavery. Many will tell you that the civil war was not about slavery but about state's rights. However, it could also be asserted that the bloodiest war in our nation's history had employment law as a core issue.

 2) Title VII The Civil Rights Act of 1964. This prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex and national origin.

 3) Fair Labour Standards Act. This is the law that established minimum wage. It also provided for criteria to govern how old children needed to be before they could work. The requirement that overtime to be paid to a worker who exceeded 40 hours in a given week came from this act as well.

 4) Age discrimination act. Discrimination in hiring, firing and assigning work against someone over the age of 40 is prohibited.

 5) American's with Disabilities Act. This law, established in 1993 requires employers not to discriminate against a person based on a disability if the disability is the only reason they couldn't fulfil the job requirements of. It also calls for an employer to make reasonable workplace accommodations to make it possible for the individual to work.

There are several other federal laws which pertain to the work place. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act provides certain rights to employees who goes on military duty. The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 provides 12 weeks of unpaid leave to employees of a year or longer in certain situations involving the employee or a close family member. Benefits that have been accrued cannot be lost and health care coverage must continue to be paid. Federal laws also require employees to verify an employee's right to work in the United States. The new health care laws also have items that affect employers and employees.

Employment law, can and does originate on the state and even the local level. All employers do well to get a good grasp on it Employees too need a basic understanding of their rights and obligations in the work place. This can be accomplished by each business or company compiling and passing out a booklet of the company’s policies.

Besides the various laws designed to prevent discrimination there are several other areas of employment law of which to be aware. These include:

 1) Laws pertaining to hiring and firing

 2) Regulations governing unemployment compensation and worker's compensation

 3) OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) rules that apply to your type of business.

 4) Compensation law.

 5) Record keeping.

 Employment law is important and must be followed.

Why Hire French Lawyers?

The legal world can be a very daunting one and often it can be very good to hire someone who is very proficient and experienced so that you can be guided through it effectively. In addition to this, hiring French Lawyers can be the thing that you need to help you navigate through the complicated legal landscape.

They are all very experienced and can really have the impetus which is needed to be secure in the case and become successful. In France, the legal training which lawyers go through is very rigorous and comprehensive so this means that they will always be trained to a very high degree, a training scheme which breeds a certain respect and dedication, attributes which are necessary in the legal profession.

This means that they can provide you with a high standard of service as they are so well trained themselves, being well versed in all sorts of facets of the legal profession. They can literally handle any case and can also be proficient in offering you advice and some sort of guidance which you may wish to take on board and can always be effective for you. They may be very academic but this does not mean that they do not possess any interpersonal skills. In fact, they are very compassionate people and can also be a great comfort to you whilst you are handling a case.

With all their experience and expertise, this can also be of good use to you when you are looking to seek legal counsel, they are very reliable and can also be of a great support to you in your times of need and make you feel better about things. They just seem to have a quality which can really get through to you and mean that you get the support and help that you deserve so that you can be happy that you are being looked after properly.

Furthermore, they do have a lot of experience in many different cases. This can enable people to be happy and carefree in what handling a legal matter, which can really be a great boon to their wellbeing and also have a significant impact on their future. French lawyers have a big skill set and can really delve into the particulars of a case with no other problems and have a very methodical nature, which comes from a good schooling and education, which is vital to success in life. In addition to this, they have other attributes which are of advantage to them helping people. They like to take to get the time to get to know their clients and be of a great support to them as they know how to set them at ease.

French lawyers are skilled and very proficient in what they do. They seem to have the ideal fusion of personal skills and reap the benefits of some great training. They really know their stuff and will always give the service that is required and help their clients out so that they can get on with their life.

Why is Fire Risk Assessment Important?

In all buildings there is a need to protect things and ensure that people are not at risk of unnecessary dangers which may occur and prevent them from being safe in the building. Perhaps one of the most dangerous things that could happen to people is them being at risk of a fire, which possibly explains one of the main reasons for carrying out an appropriate fire risk assessment.

The last thing that anyone wants is for people to be injured by a fire which explains why some people are quite scared of fires and with good reason. When carrying out a fire risk assessment, one should be particularly vigilant as they do not want to risk a person's life by not being thorough and doing a good job. Furthermore, something else which may be pertinent to bare in mind is that ideally more than one person should conduct a fire risk assessment so that people are kept happy and safe and not going to be at risk from being damaged by a fire. Furthermore, people do not want to be left at risk by one person's silly negligence.

Another reason for carrying out a suitable fire risk assessment is that people need to be protected and so does their property, in an office there are many things which are quite important in value and do not need to be damaged. Further to this, it can be very expensive to replace these items if they are damaged in a fire. Essentially, a fire risk assessment can actually prevent these from being damaged in the long term and help to secure the long-term financial future of a company or firm if they are not always having to shell out for replacements for the kit. This is yet another benefit of a fire risk assessment.

Employees may be become ill at ease if they feel that they are at danger when they are in the building where they work. Like it or not, this can affect their productivity and not make them very happy and secure in the workplace. This is the last thing that a company needs as it can damage profits and future scope for progression. Employees can be really damaged and ill at ease if they feel that their needs are not being taken care of. Further to this, they can become quite angry at their superiors and leave the company in extreme cases if they feel that their welfare is not being looked after. This is not a good prospect as an employer wants to keep hold of all their workforce and actually enable them to thrive in the workplace, not by feeling so stymied. Furthermore, a fire risk assessment can help to do this in part. The employees will feel like their needs and safety are being taken into account and will feel a lot happier as a result of this and are less likely to exit the profession or file a complaint against the company, which really conveys the importance of a fire risk assessment.

PC Properties News Release for Student Accommodation Sheffield & In Association With Sheffield City Council Private Sector Housing

A dedicated team of Sheffield City Council officers is on the trail of rogue landlords who house tenants in properties for residential and student housing Sheffield, which are unsafe or in poor repair, or abuse their tenants’ legal rights.

An increase in the number of calls to the Council’s Private Housing Standards Team reflects the growth of the private rented sector in the city. Private rented housing made up about 12 per cent of the city’s housing stock in 2007*, and the results of the 2011 Census are expected to show this has grown to around 15 per cent when figures are released later this year. These figures combine both residential properties and student houses in Sheffield.

In a recent prosecution at Sheffield Magistrates Court, a landlord was given a suspended 28-day jail sentence for unlawfully locking a tenant out of his student flats Sheffield, made to adhere to a curfew, and fined for failing to get a licence for multiple occupancy and failing to comply with fire regulations. A further ten prosecutions are in the pipeline.

A representative of Sheffield City Council’s Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration, said: “Private landlords have always played an important role in Sheffield providing both residential and student accommodation in Sheffield, and there is no doubt that the majority of them are providing an excellent service for tenants. We are always willing to advise and work with landlords who may need some help with managing their properties and our qualified inspectors are there to provide technical advice. 

“But where the good name of the majority is being tarnished by a minority who do not take a responsible attitude towards their tenants’ welfare, safety and privacy with the legal and moral responsibility that goes hand in hand with their position, we will resort to taking enforcement action.”

Peter Turkington is a private landlord whose company, PC Properties, manages around 500 tenants, mostly for student accommodation Sheffield. PC Properties are a founding member of the Sheffield Student Landlord Association (SSLA) and have worked closely with Sheffield City Council to improve the standard of student housing in Sheffield.  He said: “As a result of the introduction of the Housing Act 2004, the SSLA began working closely with Sheffield City Council, Private Sector Housing, to assist in the implementation and simplification of the new legislation concerning houses in multiple occupation, particularly in relation to Sheffield student houses.  This new legislation has in the long run, clearly benefited both tenant and landlord, and the improved standards have without doubt contributed towards Sheffield being recently voted as providing  the best standard of student accommodation in the country. I feel it important to state that this could not have been achieved without the good working relationship which has developed in recent years between the SSLA and Sheffield City Council, and which importantly has been to the benefit of student properties Sheffield.  Much of that credit must be attributed to the head of private sector housing, and the dedicated team.

More recently, our focus has been centred on working with Sheffield City Council to address some of the issues associated with students properties Sheffield which are located in residential areas, ie. anti-social behaviour, noise pollution , ’to let’ signs, litter etc.

Despite the introduction of improved regulation, there are inevitably a very small minority of so called landlords who refuse to comply with required standards,  and who purposely evade the need to licence their properties, and in doing so harm what is a very high standard of student accommodation Sheffield.

As part of our continued and evolving partnership with Sheffield City Council, the SSLA are fully committed to assist wherever possible, to identify any individual or organisation, who blatantly disregard their obligations towards the welfare, health and safety of their tenants.  

The private sector has had to endure for far too long the presence of a minority of stereotypical, unscrupulous landlords who continue to compromise the integrity of the responsible landlord, and who take advantage of the high demand for student housing Sheffield. We therefore very much welcome and fully support this latest initiative undertaken by Sheffield City Council”.  

  

The work done by the Council team includes inspecting and regulating private rented housing.  They are also responsible for regulating studentaccommodation in Sheffield, known as HMOs (Houses In Multiple Occupation), some of which may need a licence. Under the law all rented houses of three or more storeys, and with at least five occupants, needs to be licensed by the Council. This means they have to be inspected to make sure they comply with standards such as fire regulations, as their occupants can be at greater risk.

The team also intervenes in cases where tenants have been unlawfully threatened with eviction, and provides advice and information for private tenants and landlords.

Beyond the private rented sector, the Private Housing Standards Team will also carry out legal notice enforcement action on empty properties which have become a nuisance or a danger, or are having a negative impact on the neighbourhood.

PC Properties News Release for Student Accommodation Sheffield & It’s Association With Olympic Champion – Sebastian Coe

The Broomhill area of Sheffield is home to some of the most desirable student accommodation in Sheffield.

In particular, the pleasant and leafy Marlborough Road is the location of some of the most attractive and imposing Victorian residential properties, and which provides one of the most sociable mixes of residential and student housing in Sheffield

PC Properties are one of the leading providers of student housing Sheffield, and can offer a comprehensive range of student accommodation in this very convenient and desirable area.

PC Properties own No. 6, Marlborough Road which is a large and superior three storey seven bedroom student house located at the end of Marlborough Road where it meets with Northumberland Road. This property provides excellent facilities and is in close proximity to The University of Sheffield main campuses.

The tenants of many student properties Sheffield living on Marlborough Road may be unaware that Marlborough Road is where one of our greatest athletes of modern times lived during his school and teen years. This is of course, none other than Olympic and World middle distance Champion, Sebastian Coe.

Seb Coe lived with his parents for many years on Marlborough Road and went to school locally, attending Tapton and Abbeydale Grange schools. During his early years, Seb coached by his Father Peter Coe, endured a punishing training schedule here in Sheffield which during those early cold and dark winter mornings and his arduous route would take him through large areas of student accommodationSheffield

Seb Coe’s most notable achievements in the world of athletics as a middle distance runner was to win four Olympic Gold medals including the 1500 metres gold medal at the Olympic Games in 1980 and 1984, and set eight outdoor and three indoor world records also in middle distance track events.

Since retiring from athletics in 1990, Sebastian Coe was awarded the MBE in 1990 and was created a life peer in 2000 and was then given the title of Baron Coe of Ranmore Surrey. In 2006, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year's Honours List for services to sport. He is now chairman of the London organizing committee for the Olympic Games being hosted by London in 2012

The house in which Seb Coe grew up in has Marlborough Road has since utilised for student flats Sheffield,although is now understood to have returned to private residential accommodation.

There cannot be many Sheffield student houses which can lay claim to being the home of one the world’s greatest middle distance athletes.

PC Properties News Release for Student Accommodation In Sheffield & It’s Association With The Edwardian Suffragette Movement

The pleasant and leafy suburb of Broomhill is home to some of the most desirable student accommodation in Sheffield.

In particular, the impressive Marlborough Road, location of very attractive Victorian residential properties, provides one of the most sociable mixes of residential and student housing in Sheffield

PC Properties who are one of the leading providers of student housing in Sheffield, can offer a comprehensive of student accommodation in this very attractive and desirable area.

PC Properties No. 6, Marlborough Road is a superb seven bedroom student house located at the end of Marlborough Road where it meets with Northumberland Road.

The tenants of many student properties in Sheffield, and who live on Marlborough Road may be unaware that 45, Marlborough Road was the home and work place of Adela Pankhurst, daughter of Emiline Pankhurst, founder of the British Suffragette movement, who lead the fight for women’s rights, and most significantly helped to win the right for women to vote which only came about in 1928

Adela Pankhurst came to Sheffield in 1910 and lived at 45, Marlborough Road until 1911, where she used the house as a base for the suffragette movement. I think she would be very proud to find that as a result of her suffragette movement, Marlborough Road is now one of the main centres for student properties Sheffield and is home to young women studying for degrees which was essentially a male domain and would have been unheard of in the early part of the 20^th century

45, Marlborough Road has been previously utilised for student flats in Sheffield, but has been unoccupied for some time, resulting in vandalism and is sadly now in a poor state of disrepair. However, the property has been recently purchased and renovation works will hopefully soon commence.

There cannot be many Sheffield student houses which can lay claim to hosting such an influential and important civil rights leader as Adela Pankhurst.  

The residents of the Broomhill area are aiming to raise funds for a plaque in honour of Marlborough Roads most famous resident, Adela Pankhurst (born 1885 – died 1961)

PC Properties News Release for Student Accommodation Sheffield

A dedicated team of Sheffield City Council officers are on the trail of rogue landlords who provide student housing in Sheffield and whose tenants are in properties which are unsafe or in poor repair, or abuse their tenants' legal rights.

A spokesman for Sheffield City Council Homes and Regeneration, said: "Private landlords have always played an important role in providing student housing Sheffield, and there is no doubt that the majority of them are providing an excellent service for tenants. We are always willing to advise and work with landlords who provide student housing in Sheffield and student flats in Sheffield, who may need some help with managing their properties and our qualified inspectors are there to provide technical advice. 

"But where the good name of the majority is being tarnished by a minority who do not take a responsible attitude towards their tenants' welfare, health and safety, we will resort to taking enforcement action against these particular providers of student properties Sheffield."

Peter Turkington is a private landlord, whose company, PC Properties, are a leading provider of student accommodation in Sheffield, managing around 70 properties which support 500 tenants. PC Properties are a founding member of the Student Landlord Association whose membership provide student housing Sheffield to over three thousand tenants. He said: "As a result of the introduction of the Housing Act 2004, our Landlord association began working closely with the local authorities Private Sector Housing department to assist in the implementation and simplification of the new legislation concerning houses in multiple occupation, particularly regarding student housing in Sheffield.  Sheffield student houses achieve the high standards required by both tenant and local authority. This new legislation has in the long run, clearly benefited both tenant and landlord, and the improved standards have without doubt contributed towards Sheffield being recently voted as providing  the best standard of student accommodation in the country. The Landlords and letting agents of Student accommodation Sheffield have achieved significant improvements in their standard of student properties Sheffield and level of service. I feel it important to state that these improved standards of student accommodation Sheffield could not have been achieved without the good working relationship which has developed in recent years with the local authority.

More recently, our focus has been centred on working with Sheffield City Council to address some of the issues associated with student flats Sheffield and in general student housing Sheffield which are located in residential areas, ie. anti-social behaviour, noise pollution , 'to let' signs, litter etc.

Despite the introduction of improved regulation, there are inevitably a very small minority of so called landlords who supply student accommodation in Sheffield, who refuse to comply with required standards, and who purposely evade the need to licence their properties.

As part of our continued and evolving partnership with the Council, our Landlord organisation is fully committed to assist wherever possible, in identifying any individual or organisation, who blatantly disregard their obligations towards the welfare, health and safety of their tenants occupying student accommodation in Sheffield  

The private sector has had to endure for far to long the presence of a minority of stereotypical, unscrupulous landlords who continue to compromise the integrity of the responsible landlord who provide excellent Sheffield student houses. We therefore very much welcome and fully support this latest initiative undertaken by Sheffield City Council".

The work done by the Council team includes inspecting and regulating private rented housing.  They are also responsible for regulating student housing in Sheffield, known as HMOs, some of which may need a licence. Under the law all rented houses of three or more storeys, and with at least five occupants, needs to be licensed by the Council. This means that Sheffield student houses and Student flats Sheffield have to be inspected to make sure they comply with standards such as fire regulations, as their occupants can be at greater risk.