Courier wins holiday pay in key tribunal ruling on gig economy – The Guardian

‘A cycle courier working for the delivery firm CitySprint has won the right to paid holidays and minimum pay in a key ruling on the gig economy.’

Full story

The Guardian, 6th January 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BSB seeks views on shared parental leave for self-employed barristers – Bar Standards Board

Posted November 23rd, 2016 in barristers, consultations, news, parental rights, self-employment by tracey

‘”Should self-employed barristers enjoy similar rights to shared parental leave as employed barristers?” the Bar Standards Board (BSB) asks in a consultation launched today.’

Full press release

Bar Standards Board, 22nd November 2016

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Is new employment law really necessary to protect the gig workers? – The Independent

Posted November 22nd, 2016 in employment, employment tribunals, news, self-employment by sally

‘Significant number of the self-employed are neither enjoying the advantages of self-employment nor benefiting from the rights associated with employment.’

Full story

The Independent, 21st November 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Some Lessons from Uber – No. 5 Chambers

Posted November 9th, 2016 in appeals, employment, news, self-employment, taxis, tribunals by sally

‘Anthony Korn highlights some lessons from the much publicised and controversial tribunal ruling in Aslam and Farrar v Uber BV, Uber London Ltd and Uber Britannia Ltd (case Nos 2202551/2015).’

Full story

No. 5 Chambers, 31st October 2016

Source: www.no5.com

Uber drivers: legal documentation has little impact on relationship between worker and engager, expert says – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 1st, 2016 in employment, employment tribunals, flexible working, news, self-employment, taxis by sally

‘Much has been made of the new flexibilities the so-called ‘gig economy’ offers to businesses and workers. However, whether these flexibilities truly exist will depend on the actual relationship between the parties, as last week’s decision against Uber shows.’

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 31st October 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Is employment law fit for the gig economy? – The Guardian

Posted September 13th, 2016 in employment, industrial action, news, postal service, remuneration, self-employment, taxis by sally

‘Protesting Uber drivers and Deliveroo couriers are classed as self-employed, and there are questions as to whether the law adequately protects such workers.’

Full story

The Guardian, 13th September 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Hermes may face HMRC investigation into allegations of low pay – The Guardian

‘The government has asked tax inspectors to consider investigating allegations of low pay by self-employed couriers working for the doorstep delivery company Hermes.’

Full story

The Guardian, 11th September 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Deliveroo contracts ‘written to scare couriers from going to court over workers’ rights’ – The Independent

‘Deliveroo has outsmarted Uber by reportedly building clauses into the contracts of its couriers to prevent them from taking the company to court over worker’s rights.’

Full story

The Independent, 25th July 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Uber faces court battle with drivers over employment status – The Guardian

‘Uber is facing a legal challenge from drivers who say that they should be recognised officially as workers at the company, as calls grow for new rights for the UK’s burgeoning army of self-employed individuals.’

Full story

The Guardian, 19th July 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Interpreters lose MoJ race bias challenge – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Employment Tribunal did not ’misdirect’ itself when it dismissed two interpreters’ claims for racial discrimination against the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 17th May 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Romanian sex workers challenge UK immigration policy – The Guardian

Posted May 3rd, 2016 in deportation, immigration, news, prostitution, self-employment by tracey

‘A policy aimed at deporting “high-harm” EU-national criminals and those not entitled to remain in Britain is to be challenged by Romanian sex workers who maintain they are self-employed.’

Full story

The Guardian, 1st May 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Bike couriers launch legal fight over workers’ rights – BBC News

Posted April 22nd, 2016 in employment tribunals, holiday pay, news, remuneration, self-employment by tracey

‘Four bicycle couriers are taking their companies to a tribunal in a bid to get employed workers’ rights, including paid holidays and the minimum wage.’

Full story

BBC News, 22nd April 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Bar and shared parental leave – Cloisters

‘Since Shared Parental Leave (SPL) came into force a year ago on 5 April 2015, I have written, lectured and advised widely about this new legal entitlement. The people I have not engaged with much about SPL are barristers – for the key reason that as self-employed professionals rather than employees, they are excluded from this legal entitlement.’

Full story

Cloisters, 7th April 2016

Source: www.cloisters.com

Equalities watchdog to investigate ‘white drivers’ policy of Rochdale minicab firm – The Guardian

Posted October 23rd, 2014 in employment, equality, news, race discrimination, self-employment, taxis by sally

‘Equalities watchdog to investigate ‘white drivers’ policy of Rochdale minicab firm.’

Full story

The Guardian, 22nd October 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Betriu Montull v Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social (INSS) – WLR Daily

Betriu Montull v Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social (INSS) (Case C-5/12); [2013] WLR (D) 354

“Council Directives 92/85/EEC of 19 October 1992 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding and 76/207/EEC of 9 February 1976 on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and working conditions did not preclude a national measure which provided that the father of a child, who was an employed person, was entitled, with the consent of the mother, who was also an employed person, to take maternity leave for the period following the compulsory leave of six weeks which the mother had to take after childbirth except where her health would be at risk, whereas a father of a child who was an employed person was not entitled to take such leave where the mother of his child was not an employed person and was not covered by a State social security scheme.”

WLR Daily, 19th September 2013

Source: www.iclr.co.uk

Barristers to be able to conduct litigation from January 2014 – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 30th, 2013 in barristers, codes of practice, news, self-employment by sally

“Self-employed barristers will be able to apply for an extension to their practising certificate to conduct litigation from January 2014, the Bar Standards Board has said.”

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 29th July 2013

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Updated Bar Council Taxation and Retirement Benefits Guidance – The Bar Council

Posted July 19th, 2013 in barristers, news, retirement, self-employment, taxation by sally

“The Bar Council has launched updated taxation guidance for barristers to help them manage their tax position. This coincides with changes to the tax system introduced by the Finance Act 2013, which received Royal Assent on 18 July 2013.”

Full story

The Bar Council, 18th July 2013

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Child Maintenance Assessments: Self-employed non-resident parents beware! – Family Law Week

Posted January 16th, 2013 in child support, news, self-employment by sally

“Byron James, barrister, 14 Gray’s Inn Square, considers the issue of a child support officer’s unfettered discretion in child maintenance assessments of self-employed non-resident parents.”

Full story

Family Law Week, 14th January 2013

Source: www.familylawweek.com

Why church staff are keeping an eye on lap dancer ruling – The Independent

Posted November 14th, 2012 in appeals, employment tribunals, news, self-employment, unfair dismissal by sally

“A lap dancer who wants to make an unfair dismissal claim is waiting to hear whether she has won a legal fight with a firm that runs ‘gentlemen’s clubs’.”

Full story

The Independent, 13th November 2012

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Discrimination & employment status: a new or a false dawn? – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted July 10th, 2012 in employment, equality, news, self-employment by sally

“When trying to answer the question, is this claimant an employee under section 230 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (‘ERA’)?, we at least know what tests should be applied, even if applying them can be difficult in practice. What has been harder is deciding whether someone who is not an employee under the ERA is in ’employment under… a contract personally to do work’ under the Equality Act 2010 (EqA) or its predecessors. Chris Camp considers employment status in discrimination law, in light, in particular, of the recent Supreme Court decision in Jivraj v Hashwani [2011] UKSC 40.”

Full story

Hardwicke Chambers, 5th July 2012

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk