IR35 changes & off payroll working rules
IR35 changes took effect on 6 April 2021, impacting how private sector organisations engage contractors for off-payroll working. The latest reforms were due to go live on 6 April 2020 but were postponed by a year in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Below we examine the nature and extent of the IR35 changes, and how […]
IR35 Rules Now Apply to Private Sector
Changes to the IR35 rules on off-payroll working have come into force today, affecting medium and large organisations in the private sector that engage contractors. The off-payroll rules, which are already in place for public sector organisations, had been scheduled to be extended to the private sector from 6 April 2020. This date was then […]
COVID Restrictions Easing from 12 April
The government’s test to move to the next stage of the COVID roadmap has been met, meaning further lockdown restrictions will be eased from Monday 12th April 2021, Boris Johnson confirmed in a live Downing Street press conference last night. From next Monday, outdoor hospitality can re-open, along with significant parts of the indoor economy […]
Changes to Motoring Laws from April 2021
New rules affecting UK motorists are due to come into force this year. The Department of Transport confirmed the first of these changes takes effect from today, with a change in car tax rules from 1 April 2021. Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is increasing for less environmentally-friendly cars. The amount of VED due is based […]
What is Insolvency?
When financial hardship hits your business, and you are forced to consider closing down, working out what to do next can be overwhelming. Understanding the fundamentals behind what insolvency is, what the process entails and what it means for the future of your business can help you to navigate this complex situation. The process of […]
Automatically unfair dismissal
It is a common misconception that an employee can be dismissed without the need to provide a fair reason and follow a fair process, as long as they have not yet accrued two years’ continuous service with their employer. On the contrary, however, there are certain circumstances in which a dismissal may be classed as […]
Employment case law update March 2021
Read on for our monthly digest for employers on upcoming employment law changes and key employment cases that have recently been decided. Equal pay Asda Stores Ltd v Brierley Thousands of Asda shop floor workers have won the latest round in their legal challenge for equal pay. The case rests on the argument that store […]
Age Discrimination in the Workplace (Your Rights)
Age discrimination or ageism in the workplace is a form of unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. Employers are under a legal duty to prevent age discrimination in the workplace. The Equality Act 2010 states individuals must not be discriminated against at work because they are (or are not) a certain age or in […]
Asda Workers Win Latest Round In Equal Pay Battle
The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of 44,000 Asda supermarket workers in the latest stage of their equal pay challenge. Asda store workers are arguing they are being paid less because most store workers are women, while most distribution depot staff are men. The court upheld previous rulings that lower paid shop workers are […]
UK & EU Agree Financial Services Deal
The UK and EU have come to an agreement on post-Brexit financial services regulations. In a statement on 26 March 2021, HM Treasury announced the deal, which would see a new regulatory forum being created between the UK and the EU. The forum will comprise a minister from the UK and their equivalent from the […]
Roadmap Out Of Lockdown: New Rules from 29 March
The government has laid out details of the roadmap that will take England out of lockdown. The new rules, which must be agreed by Parliament, provide the legal framework to ease current restrictions on a phased basis, provided certain tests are met. From 29 March 2021, the mandate to stay at home will come to […]
No Fault Divorce: Where Are We Now?
Getting a divorce can be an extremely difficult and emotionally challenging time for the former couple. Yet even where both ex-partners are in agreement that divorce is the only option, the law at present in England and Wales does not allow a ‘no-fault divorce’. Under current rules, to legally divorce, blame must be attributed to […]
Short time working: employer guidance
Short time working is when you reduce the hours of some or all of your employees, or pay them less than half a week’s pay. This could be during periods of lower demand or slowdown in the amount of work available. The employee should receive full pay unless their contract allows unpaid or reduced pay. […]
Hall & Preddy: Homosexual Rights Landmark Decision
Hall & Preddy v Bull is a landmark case in the UK dealing with homosexual rights and unlawful sexual orientation discrimination. Facts of the case On 4th September 2008, Mr Preddy booked a double room for himself and his civil partner, Mr Hall, at a private hotel in Cornwall run by Mr and Mrs Bull. […]
New Ban on Leaving UK “Without Reasonable Excuse”
A new ban on leaving the UK without a “reasonable excuse” is to take effect next week in England as part of new coronavirus laws. The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps) (England) Regulations 2021, published today, are part B of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown. Regulation 8 of the new legislation “imposes restrictions on […]
Retention of HR records
All employers, regardless of their size, will need to collect and retain certain data relating to each member of staff that they employ. HR records can cover a wide range of data relating to working for an organisation and arising naturally throughout the lifecycle of a person’s employment, from their job application and proof of […]
Attachment of Earnings Order (Employers’ Guide)
Attachment of earnings orders are used to enforce non-payment of county court judgments or unpaid magistrates’ fines. They are administered by employers, who must meet certain obligations for the order to be effective. What is an attachment of earnings order? Where a creditor has obtained a county court judgment (CCJ) for monies owed by a […]
How Does Divorce Affect Your Pension?
When it comes to divorce or civil partnership dissolution, all financial assets have to be put out in the open, and this includes all pensions you and your ex-partner have built up. Pensions are a valuable asset, particularly for older people who have amassed sizeable funds, so it will be vital to understand how they will […]
How to write a redundancy letter
Employers have to act fairly and lawfully when making employees redundant. Communication with affected employees will be critical as you move through the redundancy process, to update employees, meet your legal obligations and avoid the risk of tribunal claims. Role of the redundancy letter Written notices will typically be needed to notify and inform employees […]
Statute of Limitations (Time Limits To Claim)
To bring a claim in the UK, the claimant must ensure they are within the relevant time limit. Understanding how time limits work in the UK is not necessarily straightforward, as there are several different limitation periods for various different types of civil claim. The rules are also further complicated by the fact that the […]