Charity cheque presentation to Uttlesford Food Bank

Continuing our tradition of donating to three local charities instead of sending Christmas cards Melanie Pratlett, our Senior Partner, met with Katy Mendes-Day from Uttlesford Food Bank on Thursday 5th January to present her with a cheque for £200.

Katy was able to tell us more about the Food Bank, which has been running since 2014 and started in a church. They have since moved to a warehouse and are already struggling for space. The pandemic and cost of living increase are two major events which have resulted in a 300% increase in demand at the foodbank but many other nationwide impacts and personal experiences may result in a person needing help from the Food Bank. Uttlesford Food Bank works by referral and once registered a person or family in need will receive a delivery of an emergency food and care parcel.

The Resolution Foundation predicts that those in absolute poverty will increase by three hundred thousand over the next 12 months.

We hope that we helped a little but the Food Bank needs help from anyone who can support them with food or money donations, or by volunteering or fund raising they can be found at https://uttlesford.foodbank.org.uk/

Adams Harrison Give Advice to Students at Uttlesford Careers Event.

On 21st November staff from Adams Harrison attended the Uttlesford Careers Event which was held at Saffron Hall.

Students aged 14 – 18 attended the event from Saffron Walden County High School, Helena Romanes School, Joyce Frankland Academy and Harlow and Stansted Airport Colleges.

In the photo are (left to right) Partner and Solicitor Jack Stewart; Trainee Solicitor Briony Dodson; and Solicitor Tanya See. Also in attendance earlier in the day were Practice Manager Louise Taghi and Trainee Solicitor Luke Gardiner.

All staff from Adams Harrison were impressed by the level of interest and engagement demonstrated by the students and they were able to advise on the variety of roles in the legal profession and the different career options and routes to qualification.

Adams Harrison Christmas Party

Adams Harrison enjoyed their 2023 Christmas party at the Hilton Hotel Cambridge on Saturday 9th December.

Lovely food and excellent service! A great time was had by all.

Adams Harrison’s Great Bake Off 2023

Just when you thought there was no more GBBO news for the year Adams Harrison wanted to recap on baking efforts by our staff in the past 6 months.

Earlier in the year Adams Harrison held its own Bake Off competition over a 7 week period in collaboration with local Estate Agents, Cheffins. Staff in our 3 offices along with Estate Agents Cheffins were the judges. Everyone ate a lot of cake!

Funds were raised for the Brain Tumour Charity.

First place was Helen’s bake, second place was Jess’s bake, and third place was Joy’s bake.

It took a while for the prizes to be ordered but in the Autumn the winners were presented with their Star Baker aprons and engraved cake stand for 1st prize.

 

Here are some of the other great bakes.

 

Adams Harrison Staff Celebrate Christmas Jumper Day

Adams Harrison celebrate Christmas Jumper Day and raise money for Save the Children

The staff in the Adams Harrison offices came to work today wearing Christmas jumpers in support of Save the Children.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed brightening the office and raising money for a worthy cause.

Welcome to new Family Solicitor Tanya See

Tanya See Family Solicitor at Adams HarrisonThe partners are delighted to announce that Tanya See joined Adams Harrison on 25th September 2023.

Tanya is a Solicitor and will be based in our Sawston office, although she is also able to see clients at our other offices in Haverhill or Saffron Walden.

Tanya was educated in Cambridge and has attained a BA in Criminology and an LLM, and trained in local firms.

She enjoys helping clients navigate through the minefield of family law and helping them work towards a solution/settlement.

Menopause Symptoms and Discrimination

A very interesting case has very recently been dealt with by Employment Tribunal Judge Wade (Lynskey –v- Direct Line Insurance Services Limited) on the 4th August 2023.

The case concerned an employee that was suffering menopause symptoms that were negatively impacting on her work performance. The Employment Tribunal held that the employer had treated this employee unfavourably because of something arising in consequence of her disability of menopause and had failed to make reasonable adjustments. The menopause and symptoms arising from it are not automatically considered to be a “disability” under the Equality Act 2010. A statutory test has to be satisfied in order to demonstrate that someone is suffering with a “disability”.

In this particular case the employer was aware of the employee’s menopause symptoms and the fact that prior to the onset of those symptoms she had four years good performance at work. The employer did in fact make some adjustments and provided additional support and training but the Tribunal considered that it should have done more!

The Tribunal found that performance procedure should have been abandoned, the employees targets lowered and a move to a different role considered. In the case the employer had given the employee an annual performance rating of requiring improvement (which resulted in not receiving a pay rise), a formal written warning and had ceased to pay discretionary sick pay before the employee’s entitlement ended. These were all found to be types of discrimination arising from a disability. The Tribunal Judge stated that a less discriminatory approach could and should have been carried and a referral to occupational health should have been made.

The employee was unsuccessful with a constructive unfair dismissal claim because whilst the Employment Tribunal considered that the employer had acted in serious breach of the Employment Contract when giving the employee the appraisal rating, written warning withdrawing the sick pay, the Tribunal considered that because the employee had remained with the employer for over 8 months before resigning that the employee had affirmed the contract.

The employee received an award of over £64,000.00 for the unlawful discrimination including £23,000.00 for injury to feelings. £2,500.00 was awarded for aggravated damages relating to the employer’s refusal to concede that the employee had a disability.

Our Employment Law Specialist, Jennifer Carpenter Solicitor and Managing Partner can provide advice to employers as to their duties and responsibilities in relation to any type of disability and the Equality Act 2010. Also, advice can be given to employees that consider they may have been treated less favourably as a result of a disability either directly or indirectly. If you think you need help please contact us at enquiries@adams-harrison.co.uk

Adams Harrison Bake-Off in aid of the Brain Tumour Charity

During June and July Adams Harrison staff participated in a bake off over a 7 week period.

A number of staff volunteered to prepare delectable sweet and savoury items for colleagues to enjoy in our Haverhill and Saffron Walden offices.

Staff judged and scored the entries, and Local Estate Agents Cheffins, were also judges so of course a sample of the tasty bakes went to them too.

Many carbs were consumed which did not do waistlines any good at all!

Staff paid a contribution for the enjoyment of eating the bakes and the sum of £97.71 was raised for the Brain Tumour Charity.

All in all a pretty pain free way to raise money for a good cause and keep smiles on faces in the offices (and at our local Estate Agents).

Samuel Ward Academy Student Careers Fair – 22nd September 2023

Anton Bilinski and Luke Gardener represented Adams Harrison at the Samuel Ward Academy Student Careers Fair on 22nd September 2023.

Over 1200 students from all year groups attended the event and were able to ask questions at the Adams Harrison stand and about 35 other local businesses and further education establishments.

Luke commented that

the students were all enthusiastic and interested, from the youngest who often had a very clear idea of what they wanted to do when they grew up, to the older students who were more circumspect and were considering all options.