The UK government should be doing more to help the self-employed during the Coronavirus pandemic

Many countries have taken exceptional measures to support the self-employed during the coronavirus crisis but it is hard to identify any providing as much support as the UK.

Imminent changes to termination payments

From 6 April a new employers’ class 1A National Insurance contribution (NIC) of 13.8% will be chargeable on any termination payments in excess of £30,000

Legal requirement to report gender pay gap suspended

The UK government has introduced a year-long suspension of gender pay gap reporting to ease the already increased burden of duties for organisations during the Coronavirus pandemic

IR35 to be delayed for a year

IR35 implementation in the private sector will be delayed for a year given the current Coronavirus pandemic, it was confirmed last night (17 March)

HR’s view on the 2020 Budget

HR magazine spoke to professionals in the sector to gauge the reaction to the UK’s new financial plans

Revised IR35 making contractors look for permanent roles

Due to the UK government’s upcoming revised tax rules, 19% of contractors have said they are looking for permanent roles

Statutory Sick Pay now a temporary day-one right due to Coronavirus

Prime minister Boris Johnson has announced that Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will begin on the first day of absence rather than the fourth

Government tax rules mean employers cut private health cover

A tax on health insurance that caused employers to ‘push’ thousands of private patients back onto the NHS is reportedly costing taxpayers more than £1 billion a decade in additional resources

IR35 reform to go ahead

The government has confirmed changes to off-payroll working rules (IR35) will go ahead on 6 April 2020

Cabinet Office seeks HR policy lead

Downing Street is recruiting an HR chief to oversee human resources policy for ministerial special advisers

Points-based immigration to open UK to highly-skilled workers

The UK government has revealed further details of its points-based immigration system, due to start on 1 January 2021

Is workplace data the future of employment law?

Data-intensive employment law, based on huge data sets, could soon be commonplace