All Tax and legislation articles – Page 19
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OpinionMichael Paulin: It is not too late to look at the IR35 rules
The coming-into-force of the Off-Payroll (IR35) rules for the private sector on 6 April 2021 was, as was expected by many, diminished, due to more or less all business owners having to focus on maintaining their businesses and livelihoods in light of the calamity of the pandemic.In real terms this ...
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OpinionEmma Swan: Vaccine passports could prove more than a customer problem for hospitality
Requiring customers to produce vaccine passports could create employment law problems for hospitality businesses.If hospitality and leisure venues such as pubs, restaurants and cinemas request customers to produce a vaccine certificate, there’s also a reasonable argument that they should require the same of employees. Staff at these venues will be ...
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OpinionRhona Darbyshire: Employers should review their remote working policies
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is planning to conduct a public consultation later this year on strengthening workers’ rights in relation to flexible and remote working, according to a recent report in The Times.This news comes as the Work after lockdown research project, published by the ...
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OpinionKate Payne and Max Ballad: Guaranteed minimum pensions (GMP) winners and losers
The UK Government has decided to make public service pension schemes fully responsible for increasing guaranteed minimum pensions (GMPs) in line with price inflation. Previously, these annual increases were effectively shared between the state pension and the public service schemes.Up until 5 April 2016, a convenient arrangement existed which met ...
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OpinionVictoria Von Wachter: Untangling the knot of furlough leave entitlement
Many industries are gearing up to reopen on 12 April, bringing furlough to an end for thousands of employees.As Prime Minister Boris Johnson provides hope that borders may reopen on 17 May, these employees may be wondering how their previously furloughed status will affect their annual leave entitlement.Can employees expect ...
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OpinionTina Chander: When furlough ends, safety and mental health issues could start
As furlough ends and employees begin to return to factories and offices, employers need to consider what physical measures are needed to ensure they remain Covid-secure and that it is safe for their people to return to work.The Health and Safety at Work Act has long-provided for safe working environments, ...
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OpinionMatt Fryer: Don’t misread new IR35 guidance
There’s been something of a panic about IR35 these past few years - not least because it’s now been beset by delay. When businesses were struggling with dealing to meet last year’s deadline, the arrival of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) gave everyone a probably much needed extra year. But this time has ...
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OpinionKaren Plumbley-Jones: Employers need to be aware of changing restrictions on exit payments
What government can introduce, government can also take away. Anyone who follows the machinations of local government have noted with interest that new rules (The Restriction of Public Sector Exit Payments Regulations 2020) recently came into force on 4 November 2020. Within them was the introduction of a £95,000 cap ...
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OpinionWilliam Carter: Employers should take note that Uber drivers are now 'workers'
It’s over. It’s a case that has seen twists and turns during six long years, but last month the highest court in the land finally handed down its verdict on the classification of drivers who work for taxi-hailing firm Uber and, not to put too fine a point on it, ...
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OpinionDebbie Sadler: Can employers insist on Covid-19 vaccination?
With the UK’s Covid-19 (Coronavirus) vaccination programme now in full swing and starting to get down to those who are of working age, there has been growing interest about whether firms can follow a ‘no jab, no return to office’ policy.Now that offices can potentially re-open by mid-June, there is ...
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ArticleHow will the Budget 2021 affect pay and benefits?
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak delivered his much-anticipated Budget speech to the House of Commons on Wednesday 3 March 2021. Below is a summary of the key announcements that could impact pay and benefits strategies:Income tax thresholds frozen until 2026UK furlough scheme extended until September Pensions lifetime allowance frozen ...
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OpinionSusan Kelly: Don’t discount changes to Tupe just yet
We’re barely a couple of months into our post-EU lives, and already there has been strong speculation about how workers’ future protections might change.Just a few weeks ago came the news that business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng was reviewing job protections; a move much criticised as signalling the start of the ...
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OpinionKris Weber: Legislative changes could see pension scheme members lose out
Corporate failures have for many years adversely impacted both the defined benefit pension schemes operated by ailing entities, and the ‘member outcomes’ of those using them to save for retirement. 'Anti-avoidance' then became a big thing and The Pensions Regulator's (TPR’s) powers are soon to be further widened when the ...
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ArticleJules Quinn: Why large layoffs will often lead to litigation
You only have to look around to see how Covid-19-induced lockdowns have facilitated the collapse of some major high street brands, ushering in huge levels of job losses.Sadly, we have already seen thousands of workers laid off. But it’s highly likely we will see many more redundancies still, and with ...
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OpinionLouise Skinner and Lee Harding: The government’s Spending Review plans for April
Due to come into force from April 2021, the details of the UK government’s Spending Review 2020 on health, education, transport and public services, were particularly high-profile this year due to the financial impact of the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. While NHS staff are expected to receive a pay rise based ...
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OpinionRanjit Dhindsa: What do employers need to plan for 2021?
It's been said that 2020 was an unprecedented year, but perhaps 2021 will be an even bigger test. Last year, businesses had to deal with the final countdown to Brexit coupled with a pandemic that still continues to plague the world.This year, employers will again need to juggle a number ...
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ArticleEmployment tribunal rejects Ryanair’s case for removing striking pilots' benefits
Low-cost airline Ryanair has had its defence for removing benefits from 29 striking pilots thrown out by the Employment Tribunal.The pilots, with the help of The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA), brought action against the employer after claiming that had their travel benefits removed in ‘retaliation’ for striking during the ...
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OpinionStephen Morrall and Hannah Solel: Improved benefits for gig workers may become the new norm
The big players in the gig economy, such as Uber, Addison Lee, Citisprint and Pimlico Plumbers, provide a system of working for thousands of people that some think is flexible and forward-looking, but others regard as insecure and exploitative.Certainly, organisations such as these have tried their level best to argue ...
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ArticleColony Tire ordered to pay $152,109 in back wages
US automotive organisation Colony Tire has been ordered to pay 248 employees $152,109 (£112,978) in back wages by the US Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD).The organisation was found to have not included employees' commissions in their regular rates of pay when calculating their overtime hours. By excluding ...
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ArticleGerman government extends child sickness benefit for working parents
The German government has extended its child sickness benefit in 2021 to further support working parents during the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.The enhancements in childcare sickness benefit are due to the German government extending Coronavirus lockdown restrictions and imposing tougher measures until 31 January 2021.Employees with responsibilities for children will receive ...