All Tax and legislation articles – Page 28
-
OpinionKerry Hudson: Employers need to be informed of pregnancies while staff are on furlough
Women on furlough could jeopardise their employee rights if they fail to tell their employers that they are pregnant.Expectant mothers who are on furlough may be tempted not to notify their employers of their pregnancy, possibly because they think they may receive more money on furlough, or because of fears ...
-
OpinionYvonne Gallagher: Uber's GMB deal is a turning point for workers' rights
Last month saw the announcement that Uber will officially recognise the trade union GMB, enabling it to formally represent up to 70,000 Uber drivers across the UK. GMB rightly described the arrangement as ground-breaking, since Uber had not previously been willing either to acknowledge employee or worker rights for its ...
-
AnalysisTop tips on implementing electric company car schemes
Need to know: Electric vehicles are now a realistic option for company fleets, either as an employee benefit or through salary sacrifice arrangements. Favourable benefit-in-kind rates are making this more attractive compared to petrol or diesel options. But some concerns remain around charging infrastructure and battery ...
-
OpinionMichelle Last: The long-term career risks for mothers working from home
Employers need to be realistic about the effects of increased working from home for working mothers in order to maintain and improve on equality gains achieved pre-Covid-19 (Coronavirus).Government guidance that people should work from home over the last year has enabled many families to reduce their reliance on costly childcare ...
-
OpinionSarah Henderson: What pension scheme employers should be prioritising in terms of GDPR
Pension scheme employers and trustees spent many hours getting ready for the revamped data protection regime that came into force on 25 May 2018. What’s new in the data protection landscape and what should pension scheme employers and trustees be prioritising three years later?First, mapping your data footprint remains a ...
-
OpinionKaren Holden: Why aren’t all employees offered paid leave after miscarriages?
When an employee has a miscarriage, they have a number of options in terms of leave. They can be signed off sick by their doctor, however, that may only allow them statutory sick pay, depending on their contract. Unpaid leave may be negotiated, or they may be able to use ...
-
OpinionVictoria von Wachter: Employers need to be vigilant of the symptoms of long Covid
Long Covid refers to symptoms of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) that persist for weeks or even months, in excess of 12 weeks according to the health watchdog National Insititute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice). Latest figures suggest that one in five people who test positive for Covid-19 continue to experience symptoms ...
-
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
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, ...
-
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
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, ...
-
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
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 ...
-
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 ...