While the predicted lockdown baby boom has not materialised and the birth rate is similar to 2020 (down just 0.5%), family caring responsibilities have been more evident in the last year as home-schooling affected many families and some children even made an appearance in professional video-calls.
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AprOur top 10 favourite holiday destinations visited over the last 10 years
Lockdown easing has begun this month at last and UK holidays are back on. Whilst this is music to our ears, the big question on everyone’s mind here at SCE is whether foreign travel will be allowed this year. We love our travel jaunts and we’re itching to get back as soon as it’s safe.
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AprEmployee, worker or self-employed? Comparing status and rights
The statutory definitions of the three categories of employment status have long been criticised as being unclear, and over the years a body of case law interpreting these definitions has grown up. Despite this, it remains difficult to set out a definitive list of criteria to allow employers or employees to determine whether an individual’s status is that of employee, worker or self-employed.
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MarThe top 10 landmark employment law changes over the past 10 years
We’re continuing our theme of top 10s to celebrate our 10 years in business. This time we’ve come up with a top 10 of notable employment law changes. As we all know, employment law is constantly changing and when we looked back, we found that there have been some quite ‘iconic’ changes in recent years.
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MarNew rules for IR35 and off-payroll working from 6 April
After postponements in 2019 and 2020, the 6 April 2021 is the third date scheduled for the off-payroll working rules to be extended to the private sector. The purpose of the change is to increase compliance with tax rules known as IR35. This change has implications for:
- medium and large private sector organisations using contractors and freelancers;
- contractors and freelancers who provide their services through an intermediary, such as a personal services company; and
- agencies supplying contractors who provide their services through an intermediary.
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FebCan employers insist employees get vaccinated?
The rollout of the vaccination programme has been welcomed as the beginning of the end for the Covid-19 pandemic. For many employers, ensuring their workforce is vaccinated is an important step in getting their business back to operating as usual. However, the effects of ‘vaccine hesitancy’ and the anti-vaccine movement may mean that some employees refuse to be vaccinated.
How employers respond to choices around vaccinations brings into play employment law, data protection law and human rights and here we answer 5 common questions.
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FebOur top 5 reasons why we love being employment solicitors
Qualifying as a solicitor is a special moment. It takes years of studying and training and qualification brings an immense feeling of satisfaction and great achievement. It can also be a bit scary venturing out in the working world knowing that you are now expected to make your own decisions.
Here we share all that is good and perhaps a bit surprising about working in employment law.
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Jan10 ways the world of work has changed in the last 10 years – 2011 vs 2021
A new year is upon us and with all the uncertainty going on around us at the moment, it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect and evaluate. We have all had to adapt in so many ways over the last 12 months, not least in how we all work, that we thought we’d have a look at how the world of work has changed in the last 10 years.
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JanCelebrating 10 successful years of providing specialist, client focused employment advice
Here at SCE Solicitors, in 2021 we are celebrating 10 successful years since our specialist HR & Employment Law firm was founded in 2011. Demand for our legal services, including our specialist mental health in the workplace support, has soared recently as employers grapple with managing staff through COVID-19 restrictions.
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JanIt is time to refresh HR policies and practices for 2021
2020 was a tumultuous year with employers having to respond rapidly to the challenges of the pandemic and it doesn’t look like it is easing any time soon. Culturally the world has shifted too, with the Black Lives Matter movement bringing momentum to improving equality and diversity at work. The end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020 means an end to free movement and has implications for UK employment law.
As we now enter a further lockdown this is a good time to review and refresh HR policies and practices after a fast-paced 2020 and to get ready for the challenges of the new year.
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