Topic: UK

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The End of Free Movement in the UK?

Global Workplace InsiderBy Aida Geragusian on Posted in Europe, General, UK
The UK Government’s announcement, that free movement will end the day after a no deal Brexit on 31 October 2019, has left many wondering how the rights of EU citizens will be impacted in the days that follow. Whilst some have speculated that it is unlikely that this means anything different than the original ‘no … Continue reading

New fast track visa to cement the UK as a science superpower

Lauren Pullen-Stanley (UK)By Lauren Pullen-Stanley (UK) and Aida Geragusian on Posted in UK, Uncategorized
The Home Office has announced a new fast-track immigration offer for individuals with skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects. The scheme will provide a three-year visa, during which the individual can come and go from the UK at will. Following the three year period, those on the scheme can apply for indefinite … Continue reading

UK Pensions – is the current annual allowance limit unfair and unworkable?

Lesley HarroldLesley BrowningBy Lesley Harrold and Lesley Browning on Posted in UK
UK Pensions – is the current annual allowance limit unfair and unworkable?  The Revenue has been forced, finally, to face up to the fact that the annual allowance changes in relation to pensions contributions which attract tax relief, and which were brought into force in April 2016, are unfair and unworkable. The Treasury announced on … Continue reading

Good Work Plan: Government issues further response and consultation to support families and pregnant women

Global Workplace InsiderBy Amanda Sanders on Posted in Discrimination and harassment, UK
As part of its Good Work Plan, the UK Government has recently published a response and a consultation paper on proposals which will protect and support families and pregnant women. The first Government paper considers extending redundancy protection for women and new parents.  The second consultation looks at various proposals to support families, including a … Continue reading

UK Pensions: Regulator ramps up “green” investment guidance for revised SIPs

Lesley HarroldBy Lesley Harrold on Posted in General, UK
New guidance from the Pensions Regulator reflects recent legislative changes requiring trustees of occupational pension schemes to set out their policies on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues which may influence their investment decisions. The new law From 1 October 2019, changes apply governing the way pension schemes prepare and revise their investment disclosure documents, including … Continue reading

In its first decision on restrictive covenants in more than a century, the UK Supreme Court upholds a 6-month non-compete covenant adopting the more liberal approach to the rules of severance

Claire Darbourne (UK)By Claire Darbourne (UK) on Posted in Contracts, Europe, UK
In the case of Tillman v Egon Zehnder Ltd [2019] UKSC 32, the Supreme Court has upheld a 6-month non-compete covenant, adopting the more liberal approach to the rules of severance. The Court ruled that on its proper construction, the covenant was unreasonably wide in that it restrained the employee from holding a minority shareholding … Continue reading

Migration Advisory Committee asked to review salary threshold by UK Government

Global Workplace InsiderLauren Pullen-Stanley (UK)By Amanda Sanders, Lauren Pullen-Stanley (UK) and Aida Geragusian on Posted in General, UK, Uncategorized
The Home Secretary has asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review future salary thresholds for the new immigration system which is due to come into force in January 2021. As we mentioned in our blog post- The immigration white paper – what will it mean for the UK’s future immigration system? December 2018 – … Continue reading

UK Pensions: Are you sure you’re not a Professional Trustee?

Sabrina EnglishLesley HarroldBy Sabrina English and Lesley Harrold on Posted in Europe, UK
If you are a pension scheme trustee, there is a risk that you might be considered a professional trustee without realising, and be subject to new standards for professional trustees that were published earlier this year. A new system of accreditation for professional trustees is also being introduced. Am I a professional trustee? A professional … Continue reading

Court holds that it’s not discriminatory to enhance pay during maternity leave, but to pay only statutory shared parental pay during shared parental leave.

Claire Darbourne (UK)By Claire Darbourne (UK) on Posted in Discrimination and harassment, Europe, UK
In the UK, only female employees are eligible for statutory maternity leave. They are also eligible for statutory maternity pay at a fixed rate during such leave subject to certain conditions – and it is common for employers to pay enhanced maternity pay during periods of maternity leave. Whilst many employers do not pay enhanced … Continue reading

UK Pensions Regulator: a new rule-making ability?

Lesley HarroldBy Lesley Harrold on Posted in Europe, UK
On 16 May 2019, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) published a periodic, government-conducted review which examines the continuing need, efficiency and good governance of the Pensions Regulator (TPR). This tailored review was conducted between August and November 2018 and led by Jamey Johnson, the former Chief Officer for Pension Wise (which is now … Continue reading

BIC UK Ltd v Burgess [2019] – employer appeal successful: retrospective amendment re-wrote history to an impermissible extent

Lesley HarroldBy Lesley Harrold on Posted in Europe, UK
BIC UK Ltd v Burgess [2019] – employer appeal successful: retrospective amendment re-wrote history to an impermissible extent The Court of Appeal (CA) has unanimously ruled that a retrospective amendment to the deed and rules of the BIC UK Pension Scheme (the Scheme) was invalid. Last year, the High Court had ruled that whilst the … Continue reading

UK pensions: Does an employer have a duty to advise a dying employee on the implications of taking ill-health benefits early?

Lesley HarroldBy Lesley Harrold on Posted in Europe, General, UK
The smooth operation of a pension scheme depends on an efficient flow of information between the employer and the member. Frequently, the Pensions Ombudsman is asked to consider scheme trustees’ and employers’ duties on providing benefit information to members. Where the law is silent, this can be a tricky area to navigate and considerable uncertainty … Continue reading

Ethnicity pay gap reporting in the UK

Claire Darbourne (UK)By Claire Darbourne (UK) on Posted in Discrimination and harassment, Europe, UK
As reported in an earlier post, the UK Government introduced mandatory gender pay gap reporting in 2017. An independent review conducted in 2017, Race in the workplace, made a number of recommendations for removing the barriers to workplace progression faced by ethnic minorities including the introduction of mandatory reporting of ethnicity pay data. At that … Continue reading

UK Employment law changes April 2019

Global Workplace InsiderBy Amanda Sanders on Posted in General, UK, Uncategorized
Despite Brexit dominating the headlines there are several key changes to employment law coming into force in April 2019. Extension of itemised pay statements to workers, not just employees – 6 April 2019   Currently, only employees are required to be given an itemised pay statement. From 6 April the Employment Rights Act (Itemised Pay … Continue reading

What to expect in 2019

Claire Darbourne (UK)By Claire Darbourne (UK) on Posted in Contracts, Europe, General, UK
Following a Government-commissioned review of employment working practices in the UK which was published in 2017, a number of developments in employment law reform are expected over the coming months. The Government published its latest proposals in December, covering a number of areas for change, some intended to improve the enforcement of employment rights, some … Continue reading

Religious discrimination claim – whose religion?

Global Workplace InsiderBy Amanda Sanders on Posted in Discrimination and harassment, UK
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has held that where an employer (or individuals on behalf of the employer) acts because of their own religion or belief, this may not lead to an employee bringing a successful claim for direct discrimination on grounds of religion or belief. The EAT upheld the employer’s appeal, overturning the Employment … Continue reading

The immigration white paper – what will it mean for the UK’s future immigration system?

Lauren Pullen-Stanley (UK)By Lauren Pullen-Stanley (UK) and Amanda Sanders on Posted in Europe, General, UK
The UK Government has now published the White Paper on the future immigration system for the UK after it leaves the EU. It has confirmed, following many of the recommendations by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), that it will adopt a new single skills-based immigration system from 1 January 2021.  The new system will put … Continue reading
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