No work emails after 5pm?

Right to disconnect

Bosses could be banned from calling or emailing staff outside normal working hours under proposals from the Prospect union. It wants the government to give employees a legal “right to disconnect”. Working from home has blurred the lines between work and life for many. The Office for National Statistics says home workers did an average of 6 hours unpaid overtime each week.

Legal fees double

Home buyers are facing a spike in conveyancing costs* amid the rush to complete before the stamp duty deadline. Many solicitors are increasing their rates due to increased demand and the extra work created by delayed transactions. Hamptons estimates it currently takes 91 days from having an offer accepted to exchanging contracts - the pre-pandemic average was 82 days.

Hermes investigated

A government committee is looking into claims that Hermes couriers were forced to accept pay cuts or risk losing work. Couriers, who are paid per delivery, have also claimed that they spend unpaid time sorting parcels in order to make their deliveries on time.

Whisky exports

The UK is looking to slash the 5% tariff on Scotch whisky exports as part of trade negotiations with Australia. The Department for International Trade is aiming to strike a deal this month - the first from scratch since leaving the EU. Australia is the eighth largest market for Scotch and drank £113 million worth of drams last year.