Gig economy
The “gig economy” refers to a trend away from traditional employment models towards the use of freelance contractors to fulfil short-term projects or “gigs”. It is becoming increasingly prevalent with the advent of technologies that allow freelancers to bid for or otherwise engage clients on a piecemeal basis. Uber, Airbnb and Upwork are all examples of disruptive technologies that are putting clients in touch with service providers in real-time online marketplaces. These pages cover the “Uberisation” of the economy and the employment status of so-called “gig workers”.
Don’t believe the gig economy hype, says Matthew Taylor
The view that full-time employment is in retreat and will be subsumed by the gig economy is not borne out...
MPs urge ministers to speed up gig economy measures
MPs have accused the Government of being too slow to act on recommendations that would protect the rights of gig...
Government’s Taylor Review response comes up short for OH
The Government’s long-awaited response to Matthew Taylor’s Review of Modern Working Practices made a lot of positive noises, but was...
Employment status: Time to review off-payroll arrangements
With greater scrutiny of employment status by HMRC, employers need to look carefully at their off-payroll labour arrangements, argues Hilary...
DPD to offer self-employed drivers sick pay and annual leave
Parcel delivery company DPD is to give self-employed drivers access to benefits such as paid annual leave, sick pay and...
Union ‘first’ to be recognised by gig economy company
The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has claimed it is the first union in the UK to be...
What will Pimlico Plumbers appeal mean for employment status?
XpertHR consultant editor Darren Newman considers the arguments before the Supreme Court in Pimlico Plumbers Ltd and another v Smith,...
Corbyn puts jobs and skills at heart of new Labour Brexit policy
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has shifted the party’s stance on Brexit, spelling out how a Government under him would ensure...
Business must look to the future of health and wellbeing
Employers should consider whether their health and wellbeing programmes will adequately meet the needs of the future workforce, including helping...
Gig economy: Pimlico Plumbers case heard at Supreme Court
The Supreme Court hears a key gig economy case today as Pimlico Plumbers challenges last year’s Court of Appeal decision...
More than £800m generated from HMRC payroll investigations
HMRC collected £819m in additional tax through payroll investigations last year, as it continued to crack down on organisations that...
Five things buried in the Good Work plan consultations
When the Government revealed its plans to bolster workers’ rights from their first day at work under its Good Work...
Emergency blood couriers recognised as employees
Couriers delivering emergency blood supplies have won full employment rights in an out-of-court settlement with pathology company The Doctors Laboratory...
Lack of action on gig economy workers’ rights criticised
The Government’s plans to bolster workers’ rights have been criticised for stopping short of bringing in new laws to prevent...
Taylor review: Government pledges to enforce day-one rights for workers
The Government has vowed to enforce workers’ rights from their first day in a job, in response to the recommendations...
