The repeal of the ‘Swedish derogation’ contract commonly used to employ agency workers could force many recruitment businesses to revisit their models, experts have suggested. On Monday, the government unveiled its Good Work Plan describing the contract as a ‘legal loophole’which excludes agency workers from the principle of equal treatment in relation to pay under the Agency WorkersRead more about Repeal of Swedish derogation ‘could lead to huge change for recruitment businesses’[…]

The Court of Appeal (CoA), by a majority, has upheld the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) decisions that Uber drivers should be classified as ‘workers’, not independent self-employed contractors, and therefore are entitled to employment rights such as holiday pay, rest breaks and the minimum wage.  This is now likely to be subjectRead more about Majority of Court of Appeal find that Uber drivers are Workers[…]

The latest NHS Pension Scheme valuation results indicate that an increase in benefit requires a 6.3% rise in the employer contribution rate to 20.6%. This figure is expected to be confirmed by the Government Actuary’s Department in their final valuation report due in December 2018.  This cost increase is driven principally by two “technical” factors:Read more about Proposed 6.3% increase to employer contribution rates in the NHS Pension Scheme from April 2019[…]

Yesterday the Government published “The Good Work Plan” which sets out how it will implement 50 out of the 53 recommendations of the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices.  It confirmed that it intends to introduce a number of legislative changes designed to improve protection for agency workers, zero-hours workers and others with atypical workingRead more about Government sets out Good Work Plan – new rights for workers[…]

Lawyers warn cases are being pushed further into the future, as employers are told to take steps to mitigate the impact of delays Some new employment tribunal claims may not be heard until 2020 at the earliest, according to an update from the employment tribunal National User Group (NUG) which will increase concern among employersRead more about Many new tribunal claims may not be heard until 2020[…]

The definition of “worker” for the purposes of working time and national minimum wage legislation includes individuals working under contracts of employment.  It also includes individuals working under any other contract, whether express or implied, where they undertake to perform work personally for another party to the contract who is not a client or customerRead more about Worker Status: Addison Lee taxi drivers are workers[…]

Equal pay legislation requires employees to issue claims within six months of the end of employment.  However, if the employee has been employed under multiple contracts, they do not need to bring a claim at the end of each contract, provided they were in a “stable working relationship” throughout the time.  The time limit willRead more about Equal Pay: Time limits for bringing claims[…]

Ms George was employed as a Library Manager by the London Borough of Brent.  When Brent suffered funding cuts, it closed six of its libraries, creating a redundancy situation.  Ms George, with five other Library Managers, was invited to compete for one of two new Library Manager posts.  Her application was unsuccessful, and she wasRead more about Unfair Dismissal: Redundancy trial periods[…]

Giving the Boxing Day shift the knockout blow. Do you have to work it? Nearly 2 million people work on Boxing Day, with 16.5% in the accommodation and food services sector, according to UK-wide figures from the Office for National Statistics 2014. With the packed Christmas schedule fast approaching, for some the holidays either meanRead more about Do employees have to work on boxing day?[…]

This year has been an extremely busy year in terms of amended employment law. From greater support for employees returning to work, gender gap reporting and employment tribunals to protect gig economy workers, there are no HR themes that have gone untouched this year.  And there’s no indication this trend will stop as we enter theRead more about 10 employment law changes on the radar in 2019[…]