‘The new breed of freelance solicitor – or what will officially be called an ‘independent solicitor’ – could join forces with others in a chambers-style arrangement, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has suggested.’
Legal Futures, 5th July 2019
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
‘A solicitor introduced to an elevated role in her former firm through a historic partnership agreement can make an employment claim as an employee, a tribunal has ruled.’
Law Society's Gazette, 27th June 2019
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Lorraine Kelly has won a row over a £1.2m tax bill, after a judge ruled she was not employed by ITV, but performs as her “chatty” TV persona.’
BBC News, 21st March 2019
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The long running saga of whether Uber drivers are workers has been decided in the Court of Appeal and a split court has granted permission to appeal. This blog analyses the differing approaches in the Court of Appeal and the arguments that are likely to be advanced before the Supreme Court.’
Littleton Chambers, 23rd January 2019
Source: www.littletonchambers.com
‘The judgment of the English Court of Appeal in Uber B.V. & others v Aslam & others (Case No: A2/2017/3467; 19 December 2018) has been hailed as a victory for workers. Uber’s business model, in common with many digital platforms, depends on classifying its drivers as independent contractors, who do not enjoy the rights of “employees” or “workers”. In essence, the majority of the Court endorsed the finding of the Employment Tribunal (ET) that these contractual provisions “do not correspond with the practical reality” and that the notion of Uber in London as “a mosaic of 30,000 small businesses linked by a common ‘platform’ is to our minds faintly ridiculous.”’
Oxford Human Rights Hub, 14th January 2019
Source: ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk
‘Uber has lost an appeal against a ruling that its drivers should be treated as workers rather than self-employed.’
BBC News, 19th December 2018
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘Deliveroo riders have lost a high court battle to gain union recognition, in a blow to gig economy campaigners.’
The Guardian, 5th December 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A long-running case over the status of Uber drivers will be heard in the Court of Appeal on Tuesday and Wednesday.’
BBC News, 30th October 2018
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘The delivery company DPD is being sued over the death of a driver who collapsed after he missed hospital appointments because he feared the company’s practice of charging drivers £150 for missing work.’
The Guardian, 13th September 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The Supreme Court judgment in the Pimlico Plumbers case has been hailed as a victory for workers in the gig economy – and a blow for organisations that rely on large numbers of ‘self-employed’ contractors. In fact, the judgment largely confirms what we already knew – that employment status must be considered on the individual facts of each case and what happens on the ground is more important than the wording of the contract.’
Law Society's Gazette, 25th June 2018
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed Pimlico Plumbers Ltd’s appeal and upheld the Employment Tribunal’s ruling that the Respondent – Mr Smith – a plumbing and heating engineer had been:
(a) a “worker” within the meaning of section 230(3) of the Employment Rights Act 1996;
(b) a “worker” within the meaning of regulation 2(1) of the Working Time Regulations 1998 (SI 1998/1833)
(c) in Pimlico’s “employment” within the meaning of section 83(2)(a) of the Equality Act.’
UK Human Rights Blog, 18th June 2018
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘In a landmark decision this week, the UK’s Supreme Court held that a plumber was entitled to employment rights during his time working for Pimlico Plumbers – despite the company saying he was only a freelance contractor. RightsInfo takes a look at what impact this ruling might have on others working in the so-called ‘gig-economy’?’
Rights Info, 15th June 2018
Source: rightsinfo.org
‘The Supreme Court has ruled that a plumber classed as self-employed was in fact a worker in a landmark case for the gig economy.’
The Independent, 13th June 2018
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘Drivers delivering goods for Amazon are to fight for better employment rights, including sick pay, holiday pay and the national minimum wage.’
The Guardian, 4th June 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘Uber is to provide additional protection for its drivers and couriers across Europe, including 70,000 in the UK, with limited insurance against sickness and injury as well as small maternity and paternity payments.’
The Guardian, 23rd May 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘The delivery company Hermes faces a legal battle with a group of its own drivers today, in the latest case promising to have major ramifications on labour rights in the growing gig economy.’
The Guardian, 30th April 2018
Source: www.theguardian.com
‘A plumber’s legal battle for working rights will be closely watched by “gig economy” workers when it reaches the Supreme Court on Tuesday.’
BBC News, 20th February 2018
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“A statutory test of employment status for tax purposes is being considered by the UK government, which is asking for views in a consultation document.”
OUT-LAW.com, 12th February 2018
Source: www.out-law.com
‘Statutory sick pay and social protections for jobless and self-employed people in the UK are in breach of legal obligations under European law, the Council of Europe has found.’
The Independent, 24th January 2018
Source: www.independent.co.uk
‘A combination of high profile cases and policy announcements about the so-called “gig economy” has a particular resonance for technology companies. Technological change has transformed the labour market, which has given added urgency to finding better solutions to three much older problems:
– How should we best draw the line between the independent contractors, workers and employees?
– Should the self-employed and employees be taxed differently?
– How should personal service companies be treated for tax purposes?’
Panopticon, 2nd January 2018
Source: www.technology-law-blog.co.uk
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