Employment

COVID-19: Latest Government announcements – What now for employers?

In a much trailed statement on Sunday evening, Boris Johnson made a number of announcements about the Government’s proposals for easing lockdown and facilitating a return to work.  The statement was widely expected to clarify the immediate way forward for businesses and to be accompanied by the publication of guidance to assist employers to understand …

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Law Commission publishes proposals for employment tribunal reform

On 29 April 2020, following a consultation process, the Law Commission published its 212 page report on employment law hearing structures (together with a summary document).  The objectives of the review were to remove unnecessary anomalies relating to the jurisdictions of discrimination and employment law, increase efficiency by ensuring that employment and discrimination cases are …

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ECJ ruling on determining worker status: B v Yodel Delivery Network Limited

The ECJ has given a preliminary ruling on a reference from the Watford Employment Tribunal in the case of B v Yodel Delivery Network Ltd regarding determining worker status. The ECJ ruled that the definition of worker status applied by the UK courts is not incompatible with EU law (specifically the Working Time Directive). The …

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COVID-19: Returning to work – Top 10 issues for employers

Businesses may not yet be able to fully open their doors and resume operations as before; however, for some, the light at the end of the tunnel is starting to break through. While it may still be some time until it’s ‘business as usual’, now that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is up and …

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Regular update on COVID-19 developments for employers

This page will be regularly updated with the latest developments impacting on UK employers seeking to manage the impact of the Coronavirus crisis on their workforce. For information on lock-down and business closures: Organisation Guidance Date published/updated Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Guidance: Further businesses and premises to close March 2020 N/a Full …

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HMRC updates guidance on Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme again

In a flurry of end-of-week activity, not only has the Chancellor announced an extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme from 31 May 2020 until at least 30 June 2020, HMRC has revised its existing guidance and also published new documents, at the same time confirming that the online employer portal will be open on …

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The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Treasury Direction: More questions than answers?

In the three weeks since HMRC first issued detailed guidance on the terms of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“CJRS”), that guidance has changed 3 times, first on 4 April, again on 9 April and then again on 15 April. Employers grappling with difficult decisions about their workforce at a time of immense economic uncertainty …

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Be Aware: Updated guidance and legal framework for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

On 15 April the Government updated its guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and issued a Treasury Direction under ss.71 and 76 of the Coronavirus Act 2020, which provides the underlying legal framework for the CJRS. The Treasury Direction makes one major change to the operation of the CJRS: The relevant date is …

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Further update to HMRC Guidance on Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

HMRC have issued a further update to their Guidance on the Coronavirus  Job Retention Scheme (JRS).   Despite the updated guidance being issued the evening before the Good Friday bank holiday,  it still does not address the issue of holiday entitlement during furlough or pay for any such holiday.  We anticipate further guidance on this topic …

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Job Retention Scheme: Update on employers’ access to funds

In a session of the Treasury Select Committee today (8 April 2020), HMRC has provided the following information which will be useful to employers who have furloughed, or are about to furlough, employees under the Government’s Job Retention Scheme (JRS). The JRS portal, which employers must use to claim reimbursement of furloughed employees’ wages, is …

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Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: updated information

The Government issued updated guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (JRS) on 4 April 2020 and ACAS has also updated its Coronavirus advice for employers and employees. The updated guidance contains some additional information and clarification which will be important for employers who are placing employees on furlough and claiming a grant under the …

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UK: Supreme Court upholds appeal in claim against Morrisons: employer not vicariously liable for employee’s data breach

Today the Supreme Court allowed an appeal in Morrisons v Various Claimants[1], a significant judgment addressing the extent of an employer’s liability for data breaches maliciously committed by an employee. The Supreme Court held that: The earlier judgments of the High Court and Court of Appeal had misunderstood the principles governing vicarious liability. In particular, …

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Government publishes detailed guidance on Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and details of the Self-employment Income Support Scheme and announces relaxation of holiday carry-over rules

On 26 March the Government published more detailed guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) originally announced on 20 March. The CJRS is designed to support employers whose operations have been severely affected by coronavirus (COVID-19). Under the CJRS, UK employers with a PAYE payroll scheme as at 28 February 2020 will be able …

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Government suspends gender pay gap reporting requirement for this reporting year

Due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the Government Equalities Office (GEO) and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) announced yesterday, 24th March, that they have taken the decision to suspend enforcement of the gender pay gap deadlines for this reporting year (2019/20). The decision means that employers will not be required to report their 2019 data …

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