Employment law stories in the news – 21.11.2016 to 27.11.2016

redmans-blog-newsIn the latest of our series of posts on employment law stories in the news, we take a look at ten employment law stories that have made headlines between 21 November 2016 and 27 November 2016

  1. GMB union calls on HMRC to investigate Uber – HMRC has received a formal request from one of Britain’s biggest unions to investigate Uber over tax and workers’ wages The GMB union, which represents over 640,000 public and private sector workers, urged the Revenue to look into the taxi service company and ensure that drivers employed by the firm are being paid at least the National Minimum Wage (Economia)
  2. Ejector seat manufacturer fined £800,000 for failing to protect workers’ health – An Uxbridge manufacturer of ejector seats has been fined £800,000 after three workers developed debilitating lung conditions. Three skilled CNC machine operators developed extrinsic allergic alveolitis after many years of years of exposure to the mist of working metal fluid (HSE)
  3. Government to abolish employee shareholder status tax advantages – Autumn Statement 2016: The tax advantages awarded under employee shareholder status (ESS) will be abolished from December 2016. The tax advantages that are linked to ESS-provided shares will be abolished for arrangements entered into on, or after, 1 December 2016, with the status itself being closed to new arrangements at the next legislative opportunity (Employee Benefits)
  4. Employee perks set to cost more – People who buy their gym memberships and mobile phone deals through a work benefit scheme are set to pay more. Known as “salary sacrifice” schemes, employees give up part of their salary for a non-cash benefit, with both the company and worker paying less tax (BBC)
  5. Bicycle couriers start tribunal tussle over worker rights – The latest legal battle over rights and responsibilities in the “gig economy” opens on Tuesday with the first of four cases brought by London bicycle couriers. The employment tribunal brought by Maggie Dewhurst against CitySprint is the latest in a series of cases in which workers are fighting to stop companies from classifying them as self-employed contractors who do not receive rights and protections (The Financial Times)
  6. Theresa May bids to reassure business on Brexit ‘cliff-edge’ – Theresa May has tried to reassure businesses fearing a sudden change in rules once the UK leaves the EU. Speaking at the CBI conference, Mrs May promised early agreement on the status of UK nationals in Europe and EU nationals in the UK (BBC)
  7. Swansea Council workers to receive pay boost following tribunal decision – Some Swansea Council workers are set to receive ‘up to a week’s extra pay’ every year, following a legal ruling made by the Employment Tribunals service. Hundreds of members of staff in Swansea are set to benefit from the change, which are due to take effect from January next year (The South Wales Evening Post)
  8. Shadow Minister for Labour Jack Dromey attacks Uber for its ‘disreputable’ business model – Trade unionists and labour activists see the Uber case as a chance to strike a blow against the gig economy — and among them is British politician Jack Dromey, Labour MP and shadow minister for labour (Business Insider)
  9. Car component firm fined after multiple back injuries to workers – A car component manufacturer has been sentenced after six workers experienced back injuries from repeatedly lifting heavy car engine parts by hand (HSE)
  10. Council ponders workplace parking levy – A controversial levy on workplace car parking is being considered by councillors trying to cut road congestion in Oxford. The proposal to charge firms a fee per employee car parking space faces tough opposition from businesses (BBC)