Employment

NAO finds that almost one in ten furloughed employees were asked to work during lockdown in breach of CJRS rules

New report on coronavirus-related employment support schemes calls on HM Treasury and HMRC to do more to protect employees and counter acts of fraud

Employment Tribunals facing ‘perfect storm’ of rising demand at time of limited capacity, says Citizens Advice

New analysis of employment tribunal data finds backlog of cases caused by coronavirus pandemic could rise to more than half a million by Spring 2021

Government announces changes to Job Support and Self-Employment Income Support Schemes in recognition of the ‘challenging times ahead’

Less than a month since announcing his Winter Economy Plan, the Chancellor says that he's always said that the government must be ready to adapt its financial support as the COVID-19 situation evolves

Total value of claims made to Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme exceeds £40 billion

Monthly HMRC statistics also show that the value of claims for the second Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant has increased to just under £6 billion

More than two million ‘at-risk’ jobs will not be saved by the Job Support Scheme, predicts New Economics Foundation

Subsidising a higher proportion of wages and reducing the employer's contribution would protect more jobs and would likely pay for itself in the longer term, says think tank

One in five working parents feel they have been treated less fairly at work since onset of COVID-19

Findings of YouGov poll demonstrate need to add caring responsibilities to list of protected characteristics in Equality Act 2010, says Working Families

Of the 2 million viable jobs at risk this winter, just 230,000 are likely to be saved by the Job Support Scheme and Job Retention Bonus

New IPPR research calls for more targeted incentives for employers under both schemes to promote retention of more workers on a part-time basis

Employment case law round up

Job Support Scheme expanded to provide two-thirds of employees’ salaries where employer is required to close in local or national lockdown

Government announces new scheme from 1 November 2020 for employees who have been off work for a minimum of seven consecutive days

TUC calls for local furlough approach for areas facing high COVID-19 infection rates and further business closures

Chancellor needs to adopt a fresh approach to protect jobs and livelihoods in areas facing local lockdowns

Employment case law round up

Government modifies the effect of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to provide for new Job Retention Bonus

New Treasury Direction sets out legal framework for the new scheme that will pay employers £1,000 for each furloughed worker still employed at 31 January 2021

TUC calls for government to bring socio-economic duty in the Equality Act 2010 into force

'Equality must not be an aferthought for ministers', says General Secretary on tenth anniversary of the Act becoming law

National Minimum Wage protection extended to maritime workers across the UK from today

Department for Transport highlights that maritime was only sector in the UK that was not applying the pay protection

President of the Employment Tribunals ‘deeply troubled‘ by challenge that continued increase in outstanding tribunal caseload poses to delivering justice in a reasonable time

Reporting to a recent Employment Tribunals national user group meeting, Judge Clarke also says that the winding down of the Job Retention Scheme is likely to drive a further increase in claims

Employment Tribunal receipts increase by almost 20 per cent in three months to June 2020 compared to same period last year

Ministry of Justice attributes increase in single claims to rise in unemployment and changes to working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic

Design flaws mean that new Job Support Scheme will not significantly reduce expected rise in unemployment as a result of COVID-19

New Resolution Foundation analysis highlights cost to employers which gives them 'little or no incentive' to protect jobs