One of the common characteristics of a self-employed person is that they have a right to substitute someone else to work for an employer on their behalf. Indeed this is one of the key characteristics that both Employment Tribunals and HMRC use when making decisions on [...]
After all the activity surrounding GDPR in the first half of 2018 things have largely calmed down in the press and with most businesses we talk to. Some employers have ignored it and hoped it will go away (it won’t!) but most have at least put [...]
Mental ill health is experienced by 1 in 4 of us at some point in our lives according to the Government’s Department of Health. If you are affected it is important to understand your rights and the legal obligations of your employer where your mental health [...]
The UK National Minimum Wage rates for 2019 have now been introduced together with increases in other statutory rates of pay. Employers are advised to ensure their payroll systems are updated from 1st April. National Minimum Wage Rates from 1 April 2019: Workers aged 25 and [...]
In some recent high profile cases involving harassment and discrimination it appears that confidentiality clauses may have been used to silence potential victims. The Government has now issued a consultation document seeking views on how this might be prevented in future. What is a Confidentiality Clause? [...]
The Court of Appeal has issued its decision in the long running case of Asda Stores vs Brierley, where female Asda checkout staff have brought an equal pay claim arguing that their customer facing role is being undervalued compared to warehouse worker colleagues. In 2017 the [...]
The Government has announced a proposal to extend redundancy protection for women and new parents. A consultation paper has been published following recommendations made by the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices in 2017. Currently, under regulation 10 of the Maternity and Parental Leave etc Regulations [...]
New Contractual Rights for Couriers The GMB trade union have struck a ground-breaking deal with courier firm Hermes this week. Under the new agreement the 15,000 gig economy couriers will be able to opt in to become “Self-Employed Plus” workers giving them the access to new [...]
After a relatively warm Christmas break, forecasters are predicting snow across the UK. As the transport network struggles to cope, some employees will find themselves unable to get to work and employers will have to deal with questions over pay and absence. At Backhouse Solicitors, we [...]
Details of a Bill have been published in Parliament this month introducing a new statutory right for parents to take paid leave from work following the death of a child. The Parental Bereavement (Pay and Leave) Bill championed by Conservative MP Kevin Hollindrake will offer working [...]
