Insights & News
Search for Insights & News
-
Factsheet: Global talent - Digital technology applicants
20 August 2020We have produced a useful factsheet on the Global Talent Visa requirements.
-
Finance Act 2020 widens the scope of IR35
19 August 2020Despite further attempts at delay, the final version of the notorious private sector IR35 rules are now enshrined in the Finance Act 2020, which received Royal Assent on 22 July 2020.
-
Do your contracts and policies stand up to the Covid-19 test?
18 August 2020The coronavirus pandemic and lockdown have stress-tested employment contracts and policies, with some showing signs of strain. What should you do now to make sure your employment documentation is ready for the post-Covid future?
-
Tips for managing grievances during the Covid-19 pandemic
17 August 2020Some sectors have seen high levels of employees on furlough or working from home. As restrictions ease and employees gradually start to return to “normal” working, this article considers the challenges HR may face in managing grievances that might arise during this time.
-
Home Office makes important updates to COVID-19 concessions
13 August 2020Recent amendments to the Home Office’s COVID-19 guidance for applicants mean that more people will be able to make an application to switch immigration categories without the need to go abroad. The updates also have significant right to work implications for employers whose employees are covered by the grace period the Home Office has put in place until 31 August 2020.
-
Home Office issues communications to sponsors about licence renewals
13 August 2020The Home Office has now started to make early contact with sponsors whose licences are due to expire up until the end of the year. These sponsors will be able to apply to renew their licences earlier than the usual maximum 90 days before expiry.
-
Flexible working post Covid-19 - sea change or nothing new?
13 August 2020The coronavirus pandemic and resulting lockdown has caused millions to work from home for the first time - an experience likely to cause a surge in requests for flexible working arrangements once most employees are asked to return to the workplace. This article considers the legal position and the practicalities for employers in dealing with flexible working requests.
-
Life’s a beach? Working remotely from Barbados
12 August 2020Barbados has announced a new scheme designed to encourage overseas individuals to relocate there and work remotely. What issues arise for employers if their employees want to do this?
-
How does COVID-19 affect UK migrants accessing public funds and the NHS?
10 August 2020The COVID-19 pandemic has put questions around the rights of migrants to access public funds and the NHS into the spotlight. Migrants are allowed to access the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (the ‘Furlough Scheme’) via their employer. However, there are limits to what government assistance some migrants are entitled to following disruption to their normal income, and access to free NHS healthcare may also be unavailable to some people.
-
What is the benefit to employers of voluntarily submitting a gender pay report? Tom Heys comments for Employee Benefits
04 August 2020On 24 March 2020, the government announced that gender pay gap reporting obligations would be suspended. Despite the announcement over 2500 employers have gone on to publish their data, why have so many employers chosen to voluntarily report their figures? Tom Heys investigates in this article for Employee Benefits
-
Home Office confirms COVID-19 immigration arrangements beyond 31 July 2020
03 August 2020In a last-minute update on 29 July 2020, the Home Office has pivoted towards a return to business as usual on immigration policy. Some significant concessions remain available until at least 31 August 2020, however there are a number of potential pitfalls for employers and individuals to be aware of.
-
The clinically extremely vulnerable can now return to work – or can they?
03 August 2020From 1 August the clinically extremely vulnerable no longer need to “shield” due to the risk of Covid-19, and can potentially return to work. The government has amended its workplace guidance accordingly, but at the time of writing some of this information is confusing and contradictory.
-
Can I “work from home” in another country? Rosie Moore, Colin Leckey, Catherine Hayes, Catherine Leung and Katy Lee write for Lawyer Monthly
31 July 2020COVID-19 is causing many employees to ask if they can work from ‘home’ for an extended period in an overseas country, for example, because it is their home nation, or their family is based there.
-
New law on redundancy and notice pay for furloughed employees
30 July 2020In a piece of rapid-fire legislating, the government has passed new regulations intended to ensure that furloughed employees who are made redundant receive statutory redundancy and notice pay based on their “pre-furlough” rate.
-
Apprenticeships: Round-up of recent developments on delivery, hiring bonus and redundancies
28 July 2020Apprentices, employers, training providers and assessment organisations have experienced their fair share of challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government’s Department for Education has continued to review the apprenticeships landscape since the early days of lockdown.
-
Travelling from Spain – new self-isolation rules and employment
27 July 2020A requirement to self-isolate for 14 days in order to limit the spread of Covid-19 has been re-imposed on all people returning to the UK from Spain. Happening in the middle of peak summer holiday season, how does this affect employees who are already travelling or due to travel in the next few weeks?
-
How will the current crisis shape the social contract and business landscape?
23 July 2020“We’re facing the twin-track challenges of creating a society with better 'good work' yet also facing the headwinds of an economic crisis. Few want to return to the world exactly as it used to be. In the world of work, we have a unique opportunity but also a unique once in a generation challenge, for both employers and the government, in re-thinking the who, how, what, and where of work.” James Davies, Partner, Lewis Silkin LLP
-
New Health and Care visa to launch from 4 August 2020
22 July 2020The Home Office has released the first guidance on the a new ‘Health and Care Visa’ for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals including individuals working in the social care sector. The Health and Care Visa will be available from 4 August 2020 and will fall under the Tier 2 (General) category.
-
Home Office publishes COVID-19 minimum income policy for family visa route applicants
21 July 2020On 17 July 2020 the Home Office updated its policy guidance to confirm a surprisingly limited concession to the usual minimum income requirements that most applicants for partner and child visas must meet.
-
Back to work – advice on working from home set to change on 1 August
20 July 2020The Prime Minister wants more staff to go back to their workplace, but his big announcement is only likely to bring about a small shift.