The Home Office updates Employer’s guide to right to work checks
The Home Office has recently updated its guidance for employers on right to work checks, with important implications for employers, including umbrella companies. These changes aim to streamline the process of conducting right to work checks, enhance compliance, and reduce the risk of illegal working in the UK. Key Changes to the Home Office Guidance…
The Employment Rights Bill: A Political Tug-of-War with Real-World Consequences
Prime Minister’s Questions this week put the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) firmly in the spotlight, with the Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch, going on the offensive. She claimed the Bill will cost businesses £5 billion, contradicting the Prime Minister’s so-called “growth test.” Keir Starmer, in response, pointed to international comparisons and celebrated Heathrow’s third…
PSC contractor was actually a “worker” of the recruitment agency (deduction of Employer’s NI was unlawful)
In the recent case of Appiah v Tripod Partners Ltd and Home Office, the employment tribunal addressed the issue of unlawful deductions of Employer’s National Insurance Contributions for an inside IR35 assignment. Facts of the case Michelle Appiah (“the Claimant”) is an independent social worker providing services to the Home Office through an employment business,…
Neonatal Leave and Pay Effective from 6 April 2025
The Department for Business and Trade have announced that the right to leave for employees with babies in neonatal care will be available from day one of employment from 6 April 2025. The right to statutory pay during this time will be available to eligible employees who meet the service and earnings criteria. This comes…
FCSA calls out a multi-million pound Fraud scheme and Urges Government to think again about how best to Protect Workers
In an open letter to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, FCSA has laid out its recommendations for addressing systemic issues in the UK’s labour supply chain. Co-signed by FCSA Chief Executive Chris Bryce and employment status expert Rebecca Seeley Harris, the letter calls for thoughtful implementation of proposed reforms, emphasising the need for balanced regulation and robust worker protections.
FCSA Responds to Employment Rights Bill Inquiry, Calls for Tailored Approach to Temporary Workers
The Freelancer & Contractor Services Association (FCSA) has released its consultation response to the Business and Trade Committee’s “Make Work Pay: Employment Rights Bill” inquiry. As the UK’s leading membership body for the temporary labour services market, FCSA emphasises the need for a nuanced approach that accounts for the unique complexities of agency and umbrella…
The new duty to prevent Sexual Harassment
Written by Brabners LLP Introduction On 26 October 2024, the law will impose a new duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. The new duty applies to all employers, including employers of umbrella employees, regardless of the size of the organisation. The current law The law already makes employers vicariously liable for…
Boost your contingent workers and your business with tailored benefits
Allow us to introduce ourselves! Hi, we’re Boostworks – the people that help people thrive. Previously known as Remus Rewards, we’re experts in the contingent workforce and we understand the challenges within the industry. We’ve spent over 22 years collaborating with a wide range of fantastic organisations, including umbrella companies and recruitment agencies, to deliver…
Employer’s ‘Holiday Saving Scheme’ Inadvertently Breached National Minimum Wage Rules
Written by Brabners LLP Another employer has fallen foul of the complicated rules on National Minimum Wage (NMW). In July, in the case of Revenue and Customs Commissioners v Lees of Scotland Ltd, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) ruled in favour of HMRC over a notice of underpayment of NMW which HMRC had issued to…
Understanding the National Minimum Wage: Key Considerations for Employers
Written by Kudzai Kamhiriri – Compliance Officer at FCSA The National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the National Living Wage (NLW) are the minimum legal amounts employers must pay their workers. These regulations are essential in employment law, ensuring that workers receive a fair baseline pay for their efforts. Compliance with the NMW and NLW is…