On 6th April 2008 a number of important provisions came into force in relation to sex discrimination in the workplace, of which all Scottish employers must be aware. The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Regulations) 2008 amend the current laws concerning harassment, discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy or maternity, and also the terms and conditions that apply during maternity leave. Significant provisions which must be considered by employers include the extension of the definition of discrimination by removing the need to compare the treatment of pregnant women with non-pregnant women in order to establish discrimination, and also new certain circumstances in which employers will be found liable where there has been sexually-related harassment by a third party to an employee and no reasonable steps have been taken by the employer to prevent it. It is vitally important that employers keep themselves up to date with provisions as important as these, because ignorance of their obligations will not provide a reasonable justification to avoid them. If you wish any advice in this respect, please contact our Employment Team today on 01389 762266.

The Partners are delighted to announce some new additions to the team. Linda McFarlane joined our Residential and Commercial Conveyancing Department at the end of last year, taking our number of practicing solicitors in the Firm higher than ever before, and Carol Walsh was recently appointed Letting Manager in our Helensburgh GSPC office. Learn some more about them in the Our People page on the site, and they'd be happy to take your call today should you need their experienced advice.

You may have seen in the news recently that you can now raise a Court action as a Small Claim if the sum you're looking to recover is under £3,000, and as a Summary Cause if it is between £3,000 and £5,000 (the limits used to be £750 and £1,500 respectively). A great percentage of our instructions from clients have involved actions for less than £5,000. Now that the limits have increased therefore, we anticipate that the practical effect will be that more actions may be raised under the Summary Cause procedure, in which the Sheriff at the First Calling of the case will be under an obligation to attempt to resolve each matter without further procedure. Whilst you may still need the benefit of legal advice on the technical aspects of your case, you will find the entire Small Claims or Summary Cause process less complicated, and geared more towards a swift resolution of your dispute as would have been the case under the old rules. Call us today for more information on how to raise or defend your claim.

Aye, back to the ol' claes an purridge! We would like to wish you a very happy New Year and a prosperous 2008. Our offices have now re-opened for business after the holidays, and we look forward to helping you out with all your legal needs in the year to come. All the best!

The Partners and Staff of McArthur Stanton would like to wish you all a happy festive (and hopefully relaxing) break, and all the best for the New Year. Our offices will be re-opening at 9am on 3rd January 2008, and we would be glad to see you then.