UK: Employment Law Review 2017

The UK’s political landscape continues to be dominated by the shock 2016 referendum vote to leave the European Union. Following a surprise General Election in June 2017, prime minister Theresa May unexpectedly lost her parliamentary majority amid deep divisions about how the UK should approach Brexit. Against that backdrop, the Brexit negotiations between the UK and EU began in 2017 and will continue into 2018….

Taylor-made solutions for UK employment law?

A major, independent review of UK employment law, commissioned by the prime minister in October 2016, has published its long awaited report – the “Review of Modern Working Practices”, chaired by Matthew Taylor. Media coverage has focused on its implications for the “gig economy”, but the recommendations – if carried forward into legislation – will have profound implications for all employers in the UK. This…

UK: New apprenticeship levy

  The UK Government has committed to boost productivity by increasing the quantity and quality of apprenticeships. It aims to create three million apprenticeships by 2020 and introduce new apprenticeship standards. To help to fund this initiative, an apprenticeship levy will apply from 6 April 2017. Employers with a wage bill of more than GBP 3 million will pay an annual levy of 0.5%. Details of…

UK employment and pensions law review 2017

The political scene in the UK has inevitably been dominated in recent months by the vote narrowly in favour of “Brexit” in the referendum on EU membership last June and its associated political fallout. This led, among other things, to David Cameron’s resignation as prime minister and leader of the Conservative party and his replacement by Theresa May. One consequence of all this furore is…