ACAS early conciliation rules amended

Employers in the UK who have had the misfortune of having faced an Employment Tribunal claim will be aware that before lodging a claim, any potential Claimant is required to attempt to resolve their workplace dispute by using the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) Early Conciliation process.  ACAS, which manages this conciliation process, is…

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Supreme Court ruling on Employment Tribunal fees

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Employment Tribunal fees introduced by the government in 2013 are unlawful.  The government’s aim had been to reduce malicious and weak cases but in fact, saw a reduction in 79% of all claims.  The government will need to repay £32M back to Claimants.

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April 2017 – changes to Salary Sacrifice

Following the government’s decision to alter the way in which employers can offer salary sacrifice schemes, from April 2017 tax benefits will be removed for anything from private health schemes to gym membership.  Although there is some good news in that the childcare voucher scheme will remain, and in fact be increased from 15 to…

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Gender Pay Gap reporting

From April 2017 companies with more than 250 employees will need to start collecting data on their employees and establish a “baseline pay gap figure”, then carry out the same exercise in April 2018 before publishing the same.  The purpose is to identify what is driving the difference in the figures reported for male and…

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The ‘gig economy’

The Uber tribunal verdict which was handed down in October 2016 has far-reaching implications when it comes to the future of the gig economy.  Uber has appealed the verdict, which ruled that the terms and conditions of the arrangement two drivers had with the company meant that they should be classified as workers rather than…

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Trade union balloting changes to be implemented

Employers await the implementation date for new balloting requirements under the Trade Union Act 2016.  Under the rules, a successful vote for strike action will require a 50% minimum turnout and a majority vote in favour of industrial action.  Industrial action in important public services will require a strike vote of 40% of all eligible…

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Apprenticeship levy to be introduced

In a bid to increase apprenticeship funding large employers (i.e. those with an annual payroll of more than £3 million) will be required to pay a 0.5% levy on their total pay bill with effect from 6 April 2017.  This figure will be reduced by a ‘levy allowance’ of £15,000 per year, however, meaning that…

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Immigration skills charge to come into effect

As of April 2017 employers sponsoring foreign workers with a tier 2 visa will be required to pay an immigration skills charge of £1,000 per worker (with a lesser charge of £364 applicable for small employers and charities) in addition to current fees for visa applications. Immigration Minister, Robert Goodwill, has also indicated that a…

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Plans for new legal protection for NHS whistleblowers

On 11 February 2015 a report called ‘culture change in the NHS’ has been published on progress made through the health system since the Francis Inquiry. The new report also sets out further measures for improvements to the NHS’s culture and includes plans to protect people who speak up about poor care. ‘Whistleblowing in the…

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