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 […]

6.8m People Were In Severely Insecure Work Last Year

According to research by the Work Foundation, 6.8 million people were in severely insecure work last year, an increase of 600k compared to 2022.  This represents just over one in five workers in the UK, and the data also indicates three in five (60%) newly insecure workers are women. The report defines “severely insecure work” […]

NEW GUIDE – Self-Employment

Our friends over at LITRG (Low Incomes Tax Reform Group) have just updated their fantastic guide to self-employment, and it is well worth a read. The guide covers setting up as a sole trader or a partnership and how to register with HMRC. It explains how you can prepare accounts, what business records you need […]

MPs Demand Over-50s Self-Employment Support

Over 50s who are out of work should be given support to start their own businesses, MPs have said.  A report by the Work and Pensions Select Committee has suggested a self-employment support programme could help reduce the level of economic inactivity in people over 50, as well as disabled people. The scheme, if implemented, would replace […]

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 […]

Why Latest Lawsuit Against Amazon Is One To Watch

Amazon’s attempts to prevent workers bringing about an employment tribunal were thwarted recently, with a judge ruling that the case should be heard.  Amazon had argued that their delivery operations are outsourced to service partners and as such could have no claim over Amazon – in other words any issues relating to employment rights were […]

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. […]

Attitudes To Self-Employment Are Contributing To The Cost Of Living Crisis

Here in the UK we are currently (December 2022) experiencing a cost of living crisis which is almost certainly exacerbated by the recent pandemic.  Today we’re chatting to employment lawyer Cristian Ley about how attitudes towards self-employment have changed in recent years, the impact of politics, and how that is now impacting on the cost […]

Self-Employed Pension Auto-Enrolment To Come?

An independent think tank affiliated to the Labour Party has suggested that Sir Kier Starmer should promise to introduce a new workplace pension for self-employed people.  The Fabian Society said Labour needed to copy the radical approach of the Tuner Commission two decades ago, which encouraged pension saving through opt-out schemes. There needs to be […]