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Woolley & Co E-Zine

Keeping You Up To Date With Changes That Affect Your Business

Welcome. In this issue we take a look at how changes to the Disability Discrimination Act could impact upon websites everywhere and we’ve a gentle reminder to all businessmen and women of the importance of having an up to date will.

We welcome your feedback – if there is any particular legal issue you’d like to see covered send the details through to marketing@e-lawfirm.co.uk.

Andrew Woolley

Andrew Woolley, Principal, Woolley & Co

Is Your Website Really Accessible?

You may have spent ages working on a website to make it look great and easy to navigate. But it just may not be good enough. New legislation, under the Disability Discrimination Act, is set to have an enormous impact on the way that websites are set up, how they look and how they function.

You might be surprised to realise that the Act covers sites that are providing information only (so called “brochure sites”) as well as “e-commerce” sites. Very basically, the Act says it is discrimination to fail to provide any service to a disabled person that is offered to another. Also, service providers have to make “reasonable adjustments” to their procedures if they are difficult for the disabled to use; this includes providing auxiliary aids or services.

It is important to note that as technology (and maybe the ability of web designers) changes then your site needs to keep up. It will not be good enough simply to say that you left it to the web designer: if you provide information or a service you need to be able to demonstrate that you have done all that you reasonably can.

This will become an increasingly important aspect of legal advice, compliance and web design requirements. If you are presently discussing your website, make sure the contract includes a requirement that the designer incorporates “all relevant requirements under any disability laws”.

Don’t just see this as an obstacle. Depending on your business it may be worthwhile looking more closely into the market amongst disabled people, and if you can steel a march on the competition by having an accessible website – then you’ll be half way there.

If you do not comply you are likely to be in breach of the law. Our recommendation is to speak to your web designer (or let us put you in touch with one we know has particular sensitivity and ability in the area of disabled access) and ensure you are covered. To check out your obligations contact Andrew Woolley on 01789 267377 or email Andrew at aw@e-lawfirm.co.uk.

Which 50% do you belong to?

Almost 50 per cent of people in England and Wales die without having made a will. How many of these excuses have you given for not having an up to date will?

I have nothing to leave.
My wife will get it all anyway.
I’m not planning on dying just yet.
My family knows what I want. They’ll see fair play.
I’ve heard you can write a will yourself. Perhaps I’ll just scribble one out when I get around to it.
It costs too much money.

Click through this link (http://www.e-lawfirm.co.uk/freeadvice.asp) to find out how these excuses could leave your family suffering and prevent your wishes being carried through.

Is Your Business Protected?

Most companies provide protection for their business in the form of property and motor insurance and public and employers liability insurance. Many also offer protection for their employees, in the form of life assurance or private health insurance. But up to 95% of companies do not protect their business from the financial impact of the loss of a key member of staff. For a small business this can be disastrous – resulting in permanent or temporary loss of income, increases in costs, or in a worst-case scenario the change of ownership of the business.

Products, like key person cover, shareholder and partnership protection and loan protection, provide cover but it’s important to get the right product for your business. Our advice is to speak to a specialist in this area to make sure the cover you have is right for your business circumstances. To be put in touch with a specialist, contact us at info@e-lawfirm.co.uk.

To find out more about these and other legal issues visit the Woolley & Co website at www.e-lawfirm.co.uk.

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