Dubai officials are looking at reducing visa fees and allowing 100% ownership of businesses outside its free zones in an effort to stimulate economic activity, according to Emirates Business 24/7.

UK Border Agency announced that individuals who applied for and were granted entry clearance (or leave to remain in the UK) under the “Highly Skilled Migrant Programme” (HSMP) can now apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)

EMPLOYERS in many sectors are showing a reluctance to make hiring decisions unless all managers are in complete agreement. Doesn't sound so strange but when times are hard decision-making tends to rise up the organizational hierarchy, individuals are less willing or able to stick their necks out and we seek the safety of consensus.

SPEED is one of those things that recruiters and employers like to measure to demonstrate the efficiency, or otherwise, of the recruitment process. Certainly one consequence of the recession-induced decision-making drought is that the recruitment process takes longer.

INTERESTINGLY while a “committee-based” approach to recruitment is an entirely understandable sign of the times in some organisations, in others it is a sign of a more deep-rooted problem with management or organizational structures and one that endures whatever the economic climate.

PERCEPTION says there is a surplus of candidates out there and employers can pick and choose. One client said to us recently: “Everyone's looking and everyone's worried about their jobs. Surely there must be loads of people who want to come and work for us at the moment?”

EMPLOYERS received some much needed reassurance, in relation to the sanctity of “without prejudice” communications, with the recent decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal in Brodie v Nicola Ward, where it was held that an employee was not entitled to disclose the contents of a “without prejudice” letter to support a constructive dismissal claim, even where the letter was relied upon by the employee to prove their case.

A lawyer purchased a box of very rare and expensive cigars, then insured them against, among other things, fire. Within a month, having smoked his entire stockpile of these great cigars and without yet having made even his first premium payment on the policy the lawyer filed a claim against the insurance company.

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