Pressure On Labour Party To Deliver Within 100 Days

If elected, the Labour Party has promised a radical package of employment law changes, and to legislate for changes within 100 days.  Policies on the table include: Ending bogus self-employment; Increasing SSP and making it available to all (including self-employed); Banning zero-hours contracts; Extending tribunal claim time limits; Ending “fire and rehire” tactics used by […]

EU Platform Work Directive IS Going Ahead

After several years of back and forth, a provisional agreement has finally been reached meaning that the EU Platform Workers Directive will now be going ahead.  The purpose of the directive has always been to protect workers from being exploited by platforms, with employment status being a key feature of the legislation. Presumption of employee […]

Oxford University Tutors Not Self-Employed

Two Oxford University tutors, Rebecca Abrams and Alice Jolly, win their claim for employee status in an Employment Tribunal, prompting calls for a re-evaluation of employment practices in higher education. 15 years of frontline service Rebecca and Alice, each with over 15 years of teaching experience in the Masters in Creative Writing programme at the […]

Deliveroo Win Court Case – Their Riders Are NOT ‘Employees’

In a bitter blow for gig economy workers, the Supreme Court has ruled that riders for Deliveroo do not have an employment relationship with the food giant, and therefore the riders cannot be represented by a trade union. The case was brought after IWGB tried to negotiate pay and conditions with Deliveroo, but were refused in […]

Government Not Committed To Tackling Worker Exploitation

The government has just published the Labour Market Enforcement Strategy for 2023/24.  This is an important document which ultimately aims to stamp out exploitation of workers.  It looks at the big picture of risks and non-compliance. Frustration with the government Margaret Beels is the director of labour market enforcement, and wrote the report.  In it, […]

Judge Rules Self-Employed Drivers Should Be Workers

Hundreds of self-employed drivers at BCA should be classed as workers and entitled to at least NMW and paid holiday, according to an employment tribunal ruling. According to the judgement there were a number of flaws, including that: the written agreement between BCA and the drivers did not reflect the reality of arrangements pay was […]

Two TV Presenters’ IR35 Cases, Two Different Outcomes

There have been two IR35 case outcomes published this week, both concern TV presenters so you might expect them to be similar, but they each had a different outcome. Gary Lineker Wins at First Tier Tax Tribunal, HMRC loses Former footballer and now TV presenter was accused by HMRC of underpaying £4.9m in tax and […]

Amazon Loses Attempt To Stop Drivers Seeking Employment Rights

Amazon attempted to stop three lawsuits by delivery drivers seeking employment rights, however in a ruling just published a judge said the cases should proceed. Drivers, who are currently classified as self-employed independent contractors, are seeking holiday pay, national minimum wage, the right to an employment contract, breach of contract and unauthorised deductions from wages. […]

043 IR35: Does HMRC Even Understand What They’re Enforcing?

Today we’re discussing the recent IR35 case in relation to Kaye Adams’ personal service company, Atholl House.  This is important stuff because it casts doubt on HMRC’s ability to understand and enforce IR35!  Cristian Ley, an employment lawyer with considerable expertise in this space tells us more.  Join us to find out: Which elements of […]