All Tax and legislation articles – Page 32
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ArticleGovernment job retention scheme extended to support new staff
Newly hired employees may now be eligible to receive support through the government's Covid-19 (Coronavirus) job retention scheme.The government's new guidelines, published on 15 April 2020, extend the eligibility date by a further three weeks, enabling employees who were employed on or before 19 March 2020 to receive financial support. ...
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ArticleStaff eligible for job retention scheme if organisation faces liquidation
Employees whose organisation faces administration during the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic could still be eligible for the government's job retention scheme.According to government guidelines updated on 9 April 2020, an administrator will now be able to pursue the job retention scheme for the organisation's employees if there is a likelihood of ...
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ArticleTPR publishes pension guidance for employers during Covid-19
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) has updated its automatic-enrolment guidelines to assist employees during the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. The new guidance ensures that employees' pensions are fully protected and employers are supported if they need to make any difficult decisions.The guidance also provides further information for employers about maintaining pension contributions.Despite ...
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ArticleGovernment confirms employees can receive furlough pay for multiple jobs
The government has confirmed that employees who are furloughed in one job, but continue to work for another employer, can receive the furloughed payment while receiving their normal pay from a separate employer.The government’s furlough Covid-19 (Coronavirus) job retention scheme allows furloughed employees to receive 80% of their salary, capped ...
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ArticleThe tax and legislation changes impacting reward from April 2020
With the arrival of the new tax year, new measures impacting pay and benefits are set to come into effect. Below is a round-up of these measures, along with other tax and legislation changes, that employers need to be aware of from 6 April 2020:The national living wage has increased ...
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OpinionMini Setty: Guidelines for home working during Coronavirus
Coronavirus has wrought immediate and enormous changes to working practices across the UK. As the government advises businesses and workplaces to encourage staff to work from home wherever possible, employees and employers alike are understandably rushing to ensure they understand their rights and responsibilities under law.Employers have to take reasonable ...
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ArticleGovernment to launch review of enterprise management incentive scheme
Budget 2020: Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced on 11 March 2020 that the government will launch a review into enterprise management incentives scheme (EMI).The EMI scheme is a tax-advantaged share option scheme designed for smaller businesses, enabling them to reward staff with equity participation. The review will aim ...
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ArticleHow will the Spring Budget 2020 affect pay and benefits?
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak delivered the Spring Budget speech to the House of Commons on Wednesday 11 March 2020. Below is a summary of the key announcements that could impact pay and benefits strategies:National insurance contribution threshold to rise to £9,500 from April 2020National living wage projected to ...
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ArticleFrench court concludes Uber drivers should gain employee status
In a ruling made on 4 March 2020, France's Court of Cassation reclassified the contractual relationship between drivers and ride hailing organisation Uber, giving them the right to be seen not as self-employed workers, but employees.In the case, Uber argued that drivers remain free to decide whether to connect to ...
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OpinionKate Gardner: What does the landmark veganism ruling mean for employers?
In a major step forward in employment law, a tribunal has ruled that ethical veganism is a philosophical belief, meaning that an employee could rely upon veganism as one of the nine protected characteristics covered by the Equality Act 2010.While this is great news for employees, how will it affect ...
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OpinionRebecca Thornley-Gibson: Asda’s own Supermarket Sweep
Organisations need to be agile in the way they react to change in their sector and the wider economy. However, changes inevitably have a people impact, and the current Asda employee relations dispute regarding changes to staff terms reflects the challenges in place for employers that need to maintain market ...
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OpinionPhilomena Price: Employment law changes to watch out for from April 2020
April 2020 sees some key changes coming into force that employers need to be aware of. As with any employment law matter, it is beneficial if employers start thinking about how these changes may affect their businesses now, and plan accordingly, rather than waiting.First, all workers, including employees starting work ...
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OpinionJayne Harrison: How to mitigate strike action
Union strikes have a significant impact on business performance and reputation. The walkout by British Airways pilots in September 2019, for example, cost the organisation up to £100 million, affected almost 200,000 passengers and grounded the majority of British Airways' flights around the world. Striking is a type of industrial ...
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OpinionLeah Caprani: The last taboo – menopause in the workplace
Members of Parliament (MPs) have called for the introduction of formal policies to protect menopausal women from being discriminated against in the workplace. While there is currently no specific legislation in this area, Davis v Scottish Courts and Tribunals Services, which was heard in February 2018, provides some welcome guidance ...
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OpinionBlair Adams and Kezia Daley: Brexit and the loss of EU nationals
Employers with European Union (EU) nationals in their workforce have a vested interest in actively helping and encouraging them to apply for settled status before 31 October 2019, in case free movement ends on that date in a no-deal Brexit scenario.EU nationals currently have two options to stay in the ...
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ArticleLabour pledges 32-hour week, end of zero hours and to tackle menopause stigma
During the 2019 Labour Party Conference, which took place from Saturday 21 to Wednesday 25 September, shadow chancellor of the exchequer John McDonnell MP (pictured) committed the party to start work implementing a 32-hour average working week, with no reductions to pay, during its next term in government.The move to ...
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ArticleGovernor of California signs bill redefining employee status
On 18 September 2019, California governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill that updates and amends various sections of the state's Labor Code and Unemployment Insurance Code, redefining and clarifying the classification of employees versus independent contractors, or gig workers.The bill states that, for the purposes of the provisions ...
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OpinionBoma Adoki and Melanie Shone: Major change to the UK tax regime for contractors
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is continuing its quest to ensure that individuals who work like employees pay tax like employees, even when working via a personal service company (PSC). However, it has had mixed success recently, as a number of its determinations have been overturned in the Tax Tribunal.Set ...
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OpinionLaura Hill: Are employees getting enough rest at work?
The length of both the working day and employees’ breaks are two hot topics, with several high-profile cases having come to light recently, but what should employers take away from the headlines?In 2003, Regulation 12 of the working time regulations entitled workers to an uninterrupted rest of at least 20 ...
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ArticlePoll: 33% feel Good Work Standard will lead to staff being better paid
Employee Benefits poll: A third (33%) of Employee Benefits readers believe that the Good Work Standard, an employment benchmark introduced by Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (pictured), will lead to more employees being paid the voluntary London living wage rate, currently set at £10.55 an hour.A straw poll of www.employeebenefits.co.uk ...