Be Aware UK

Government announces further lockdown easing from 4 July 2020

23 June 2020 / coronavirus, COVID-19, lockdown / Employment

In welcome news to many employers in the hospitality and leisure sectors the Government has today announced that many businesses, including restaurants, pubs, hotels, cinemas, theme parks and hairdressers will be able to reopen from 4 July 2020, provided they are COVID-secure in accordance with Government guidance, which is to be published shortly. Unfortunately, for …

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Government publishes details of the next phase of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

12 June 2020 / coronavirus, coronavirus job retention scheme, COVID-19 / Employment

Today, in line with the Chancellor’s 29 May 2020 announcement, HMRC has finally published new guidance (8 documents in total) on the next phase of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). This will be welcome news to employers who can now start to move further forward with their plans for economic recovery and assess the …

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What you need to know about the new 14 day quarantine for UK arrivals

8 June 2020 / coronavirus, COVID-19, global mobility, quarantine / Employment, Immigration

From Monday (8 June), the majority of entrants to the UK, whether existing UK residents returning from abroad or non-residents entering for business, leisure or other purposes will be required to complete a 14-day isolation period upon arrival. Before arriving in the UK, individuals will be required to complete an online “Contact Locator Form” which …

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IR35 reforms: Updated draft legislation published

3 June 2020 / IR35, off-payroll working, tax / Employment

On 18 May 2020, the Government published an updated version of the draft legislation implementing the proposed reforms to the private sector off-payroll working regime. Originally such reforms were intended to be implemented with effect from 6 April 2020 however, due to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, the implementation of the reforms has been …

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Further detail of Job Retention Scheme changes

29 May 2020 / COVID-19 / Employment

The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has today announced further details of the forthcoming changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CRJS) which were trailed in his announcement on 12 May 2020: The CJRS will continue until the end of October 2020, with employees on furlough continuing to receive 80% of salary up to a maximum of …

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The “B” word is back – Brexit pandemic planning for the new immigration system

22 May 2020 / Brexit, Employment, Immigration

On 18 May, the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill sailed through its second reading in the House of Commons by a majority of 351 to 252. The bill marks a small milestone in the UK’s journey towards the end of the Brexit transition period and into the uncharted waters of a new …

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Mental health awareness week: Workplace mental health in the coronavirus era

21 May 2020 / mental health / Employment

This week is mental health awareness week in the UK. Falling in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and just as the UK starts to take its initial steps to get back to business, the timing provides a perfect opportunity for employers to reflect on their support for staff mental health and to consider how …

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COVID-19: Latest Government announcements – What now for employers?

12 May 2020 / coronavirus, coronavirus job retention scheme, COVID-19, public transport, shielding employees / Employment

In a much trailed statement on Sunday evening, Boris Johnson made a number of announcements about the Government’s proposals for easing lockdown and facilitating a return to work. The statement was widely expected to clarify the immediate way forward for businesses and to be accompanied by the publication of guidance to assist employers to understand …

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Law Commission publishes proposals for employment tribunal reform

5 May 2020 / employment tribunals / Employment

On 29 April 2020, following a consultation process, the Law Commission published its 212 page report on employment law hearing structures (together with a summary document). The objectives of the review were to remove unnecessary anomalies relating to the jurisdictions of discrimination and employment law, increase efficiency by ensuring that employment and discrimination cases are …

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ECJ ruling on determining worker status: B v Yodel Delivery Network Limited

29 April 2020 / substitution, worker status / Employment

The ECJ has given a preliminary ruling on a reference from the Watford Employment Tribunal in the case of B v Yodel Delivery Network Ltd regarding determining worker status. The ECJ ruled that the definition of worker status applied by the UK courts is not incompatible with EU law (specifically the Working Time Directive). The …

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COVID-19: Returning to work – Top 10 issues for employers

24 April 2020 / absence management, annual leave, collective employee relations, coronavirus, COVID-19, flexible working, health and safety, information and consultation, mental health, performance management, redundancy / Employment

Businesses may not yet be able to fully open their doors and resume operations as before; however, for some, the light at the end of the tunnel is starting to break through. While it may still be some time until it’s ‘business as usual’, now that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is up and …

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Regular update on COVID-19 developments for employers

20 April 2020 / coronavirus, COVID-19 / Employment

This page will be regularly updated with the latest developments impacting on UK employers seeking to manage the impact of the Coronavirus crisis on their workforce. For information on lock-down and business closures: Organisation Guidance Date published/updated Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Guidance: Further businesses and premises to close March 2020 N/a Full …

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HMRC updates guidance on Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme again

17 April 2020 / coronavirus, job retention scheme / Employment

In a flurry of end-of-week activity, not only has the Chancellor announced an extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme from 31 May 2020 until at least 30 June 2020, HMRC has revised its existing guidance and also published new documents, at the same time confirming that the online employer portal will be open on …

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Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Treasury announces extension to end of June

17 April 2020 / coronavirus, COVID-19, job retention scheme / Employment

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“CJRS”) was originally planned to apply for a 3 month period from 1 March 2020 to 31 May 2020. Following the extension of the lockdown period on 16 April, the Treasury announced today (17 April) that the CJRS would be extended until the end of June 2020.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Treasury Direction: More questions than answers?

16 April 2020 / coronavirus, COVID-19, job retention scheme / Employment

In the three weeks since HMRC first issued detailed guidance on the terms of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (“CJRS”), that guidance has changed 3 times, first on 4 April, again on 9 April and then again on 15 April. Employers grappling with difficult decisions about their workforce at a time of immense economic uncertainty …

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