All Tax and legislation articles – Page 4
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ArticleGovernment to review fit note system
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced government plans to review the fit note system for people who are not well enough to work.In a speech on 19 May, Sunak said the government will design a new system where people have easy and rapid access to specialised work and health support ...
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OpinionNick Bustin: What are the benefits of pension salary sacrifice schemes?
Pension salary sacrifice schemes are not a new concept, but one that all employers should consider, especially at a time where the tax burden on both employers and employees is high. These schemes, which see employees sacrifice some of their monthly salary in return for increased employer pension contributions, are ...
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AnalysisWhat will new guidance mean for menopause support in the workplace?
New guidance offers advice on reasonable adjustments employers can make, but these will vary depending on an employees’ role and an employer’s sector. Employers should adapt their policies according to the guidance to promote fairness and inclusivity in the workplace. It also highlights how to encourage ...
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ArticleGovernment launches new disability guide with CIPD
The Department for Work and Pensions has published new guidance to help employers better support disabled people.The new Disability Confident guide was produced in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). The DWP said it forms part of its £2.5 billion Back to Work plan, which is ...
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OpinionRachel Webb Wiles: How to manage shared parental leave
We have all heard of shared parental leave (SPL), but should employers be encouraging employees to take it or is it just a headache for the business?SPL was designed to address the gender imbalance in care giving and to give parents more choice and flexibility in their child’s first year. ...
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ArticleEquality and Human Rights Commission updates pregnancy and maternity toolkit
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has updated its toolkit to provide employers with advice on how to prevent pregnancy and maternity discrimination in the workplace.The updated guidance now reflects changes to the law that have come into effect as of this month.The Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) ...
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ArticleTribunal orders Phoenix Healthcare and Rentacar 24/7 to pay unpaid wages
An employment tribunal has ruled that Phoenix Healthcare and Rentacar 24/7 must pay £2,912.19 in unpaid wages and additional compensation after finding they underpaid a former employeeM Piekielniak was employed as a driver transporting carers between jobs by Phoenix Healthcare from 2 May 2021, and when not busy, would support ...
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OpinionSarah Tahamtani: Advice on menopause as a potential disability
Over the years, menopause has often been stigmatised and seen as a taboo both in and out of the workplace, leading to many women facing discrimination. This group represents a significant proportion of the workforce and attention needs to be paid. While there has been progress, more can still be ...
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OpinionBen Gorner: New protections for primary carers in employment
April marks both World Parkinson's Day (11 April) and Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week (22-28 April), two conditions that over time will often require those suffering to receive significant care. It may well be that those caring for affected people are family members also in employment, so how can employers ensure ...
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AnalysisWhat will the proposed fit note reforms mean for employers?
The government reforms will trial fit note process changes in order to improve triage and signposting. Making it easier to get a fit note will enable employers to help staff get assistance in a shorter amount of time, and potentially return to work faster. The reforms ...
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ArticleLondon Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham worker wins £4.6m in discrimination tribunal
A worker employed by London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham who was dismissed after taking sick leave for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been awarded £4.6 million by an employment tribunal for disability discrimination.Rachael Wright-Turner had previously worked as a humanitarian assistance lead officer at the Royal Borough of Kensington ...
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OpinionMelanie Morton: Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2024: How to support employees
Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2024 this year takes place on 18-24 March. Neurodiversity refers to the natural range of differences in human brain function. We all think, move, process information and communicate in different ways. Many people use neurodiversity as an all-encompassing term used to describe alternative thinking styles such as ...
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ArticleManchester United in court action after HR data breach
A group of workers at Manchester United said they are suing the football club for an HR data breach, according to a lawyer leading the action.The club could face a damages claim totalling £100,000 after it accidentally emailed the wage slips of 167 employees to an entire pool of casual ...
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OpinionSally Hulston: EHRC guidance on menopause in the workplace
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has published new guidance on menopause in the workplace and set out employers’ legal obligations. The guidance reasserts the fact that women experiencing menopausal symptoms, particularly in severe cases, have certain protections under the Equality Act 2010.While the menopause is not itself a ...
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ArticleHow will the Spring Budget 2024 affect pay, pensions and employee benefits?
Image credit: photocosmos1 / Shutterstock.comChancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt (pictured), delivered his Spring Budget speech in the House of Commons on Wednesday 6 March. Below is a summary of the key announcements that could affect employers' pay, pensions and benefits strategies:Spring Budget 2024: National insurance contribution (NIC) rate cut ...
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ArticleSpring Budget 2024: Government maintains fuel duty freeze for 12 months
Spring Budget 2024: The government is to maintain the current rates of fuel duty for a further 12 months to help support people with the cost of living.The measure, which was announced in the Spring Budget, will save the average car driver £50 in 2024-25 through the extension of the ...
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ArticleSpring Budget 2024: National insurance contribution (NIC) rate cut to 8%
Spring Budget 2024: The government is to cut employee national insurance contributions (NICs) by two pence, falling from 10% to 8% from 6 April.In his Spring Budget, Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said that this will save the average worker on a salary of £35,400 around £900 a year, ...
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ArticleStay up to date with the Spring Budget 2024
Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt will deliver his Spring Budget 2024 speech at 12.30pm on Wednesday 6 March 2024.Stay tuned to the Employee Benefits website for all the latest updates on how the Spring Budget could impact pay, pensions and benefits for employers and staff.The Autumn Statement 2023's key ...
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OpinionMusab Hemsi: When it comes to baby loss, employers should not forget about fathers
As progressive workplaces move towards a more open and supportive culture, the impact of baby loss, whether through miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death, is becoming more widely talked about. However, employer support is often focused on mothers, with less consideration given to the fact fathers are suffering too. As men ...
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AnalysisWhat do employers need to know about the pensions lifetime allowance abolition?
Credit: Natata/Shutterstock Need to know: The abolition of the pensions lifetime allowance in April will require an overhaul of employee communications, and a revaluation of pension scheme design and administration, including opportunities to simplify the scheme and reduce the cost of running it. Employers will need ...