All Tax and legislation articles – Page 21
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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 ...
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ArticleKeep up to date with the Spending Review 2020
Chancellor Rishi Sunak will deliver his Spending Review speech on Wednesday 25 November 2020.He is expected to provide information on further plans to stabilise the UK economy and help organisations deal with the financial ramifications of the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.Stay tuned to the Employee Benefits website for all the latest ...
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OpinionLee Harding: Takeaways from the latest furlough scheme guidance
On 10 November, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) provided updated guidance for its headline job support measure, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), also known as the furlough scheme. While most aspects of the CJRS remain unchanged, there are some significant developments of which both employers and employees should be ...
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OpinionRanjit Dhindsa: The additional extension of furlough
On 5 November 2020, the UK government announced it would be extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) to March 2021, a leap from its previous announcement on 31 October, which stated that it would only be extended for four weeks.This was a shock to many organisations, somewhat making it ...
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ArticleGovernment publishes further guidance on Job Retention Scheme
The government has published further guidance on the Government Job Retention Scheme (GJRS), including details on flexible furlough and employees taking paid leave.The guidance outlines the increase in flexibility that the extended scheme provides when compared to its original implementation in March, such as allowing flexible furlough from the start.Under ...
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ArticleGovernment extends furlough scheme to March 2021
The government has extended the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) to March 2021, following the introduction of national lockdown restrictions across England on 5 November 2020.Under the terms of the extension, the government will continue to pay up to 80% of a person’s wage capped at a maximum of £2,500 ...
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ArticleGovernment extends Coronavirus Job Retention scheme
The government has extended its Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) until December 2020 to support those most impacted by the most recent measures put in place due to the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.The government, under the new extension will pay up to 80% of employees' wages, with a cap of £2,500, ...