Category Archives: Employment Law and Rights

Homeworking will help improve women’s careers

Posted on October 5, 2021 by Paul Evans

The option to work from home is likely to help employers retain valuable workers, and can make the balance of work and childcare a lot easier to manage. It is likely to result in more ‘returners’ after periods of maternity … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, Family rights, Gender equality, Gender pay, Remote working, Work-life balance | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Positive working environment “will lead to dramatic benefits for employers, employees, and the bottom line.”

Posted on October 4, 2021 by Paul Evans

Those bug-eyed Marxist fanatics over at the Harvard Business Review are making the case against aggressive management practices again: “…a large and growing body of research on positive organizational psychology demonstrates that not only is a cut-throat environment harmful to … Continue reading →

Posted in Bullying and Harassment, Employment, Employment Law and Rights, Long hours, Mental Health, Productivity, Wellbeing, Workplace conflict, Workplaces | Leave a comment

Women more likely to leave the Theatre sector post-pandemic

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Paul Evans

A survey [pdf], earlier this year, by Parents and Carers in the Performing Arts (PIPA) highlights a survey it did of members, which showed that 43% of parents or carers were considering abandoning their career because of the pandemic. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronavirus, Disability equality, Equality, Family rights, Gender equality, Theatre and Live Events data, Wellbeing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Right to request flexible working to become a ‘day one right’?

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Paul Evans

The BBC are reporting that the right to request flexible working (currently something that employees have a statutory right to request after six months) can be requested on day one – when they start a new job. Employers would also … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment, Employment Law and Rights, Family rights, Productivity | Tagged | Leave a comment

Continuous working week, shift work, working from home… some links.

Posted on September 14, 2021 by Paul Evans

From the FT [£]: “The decline of the “9 to 5” has been under way for decades. In 2010-11, 20 per cent of employees in the US worked more than half their hours outside the standard hours of 6am to … Continue reading →

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DNEG to pay overtime

Posted on September 13, 2021 by Paul Evans

A major UK VFX facility has finally broken ranks and agreed to pay overtime rates for all work recorded over 40 hours in a week. “Beginning in October, we will pay overtime at 1.5x rate for any incremental time that … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment Contracts, Long hours, Recruitment and organising, Trades Unions, Work-life balance, Workplace conflict | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

MPs call for Pension ‘sidecar’ to help workers with no/low cash reserves

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Paul Evans

This is not news (it’s dated April 2021), but something that Prospect’s pensions specialist Stewart Mott has pointed me at. Broadly, it’s a proposal for a new ‘sidecar’ savings mechanism within pension auto-enrolment to encourage employees to build up emergency … Continue reading →

Posted in Gig economy workers, Low pay, Pensions, Welfare and benefits | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Benefits of collective bargaining – more paid holiday

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Paul Evans

From an ETUC (European TUC) press release: “Workers who benefit from collective bargaining enjoy up to two weeks extra paid holiday per year, an analysis of EU data for the ETUC has found as millions prepare to return to work … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment Law and Rights, Long hours, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged | Leave a comment

Scotland to trial four-day week

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Paul Evans

….but without a loss of pay. More on the BBC website.

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Post-lockdown mental health concerns among theatre workers

Posted on September 1, 2021 by Paul Evans

From The Stage [£]: “Half of backstage workers are considering leaving their career and more than two thirds do not think that employers have put adequate mental health support in place for their post-Covid return to work, according to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bullying and Harassment, Disability equality, Freelance working, Gig economy workers, Health & Safety, Illness and disability, Management, Mental Health, Theatre and Live Events data, Wellbeing, Workplace conflict | Tagged | Leave a comment

Labour shortages increase potential industrial muscle for workers

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Paul Evans

Today’s FT is full of news about how labour shortages are hitting the economy in numerous ways as a result of multiple market failures [£] which includes the pandemic, the pingdemic, market failure but obviously, we can’t add brexit to … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronavirus, Economics, Employment, EU & Brexit, Gig economy workers, Inflation, IR35, Migration & working abroad, Pay & inflation, Productivity | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Freelance Deal: 1. Employment Rights, Tax and Pensions

Posted on August 24, 2021 by Paul Evans

This is the first draft of the policy document that has been agreed by the Tax, Employment Rights and Pensions Working Group of London Production Division (LPD) on the 7th May 2020. It is a contribution to Bectu’s proposed ‘New … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment Contracts, Employment Law and Rights, Employment status, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Gig economy workers, IR35, Long hours, Management, Pensions, Personal Service Companies, Skills & capacity, Tax, Welfare and benefits, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged | Leave a comment

Freelancers’ right to covid-protective clothing

Posted on August 12, 2021 by Paul Evans

I’m sharing, word-for-word, an email I’ve received from the TUC. I’m posting it here in case any members who are freelancers, have been asked to provide their own PPE, and have felt that – as a result – they have … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronavirus, Coronavirus, Employment Law and Rights, Employment status, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Gig economy workers | Tagged | Leave a comment

Umbrella Companies and employment rights

Posted on August 11, 2021 by Paul Evans

There have been a number of posts on this site already about Umbrella Companies, but I’ve had an enquiry about employment rights for people engaged through such a company. The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group has published a useful briefing … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment status, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Gig economy workers, IR35, Tax | Tagged | Leave a comment

Ban Umbrella Companies?

Posted on August 5, 2021 by Paul Evans

The TUC is calling for a ban on Umbrella Companies [pdf]. The document under that link also outlines what they define as an Umbrella Company – I’ll be reading this in some detail as I think there may be some … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment Contracts, Employment intermediaries, Employment Law and Rights, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Personal Service Companies | Tagged | Leave a comment

Employers minimum-wage shame list and how it affects freelancers

Posted on August 5, 2021 by Paul Evans

From an HMG press release earlier today: Today (Thursday 5 August) 191 businesses are being named for breaking the national minimum wage law. Following investigations by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, a total of £2.1 million was found to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment Law and Rights, Freelancer rights, Low pay, Minimum wage rates, Pay & inflation, Wages and Pay-rates | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Crib sheet from the RSA on employment statuses

Posted on August 3, 2021 by Paul Evans

You can download this here [pdf]

Posted in Employment Law and Rights, Employment status, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Gig economy workers | Tagged , | Leave a comment

How expenses work for the employed and self-employed

Posted on July 29, 2021 by Paul Evans

There’s a good rule of thumb that applies both to Employees and the Self Employed: You are expected to pay for a meal out of your own pocket if you are working from home, or if you are at a … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment Law and Rights, Equipment and kit, Freelance working, Tax | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Labour proposes the creation of a single ‘worker’ status

Posted on July 27, 2021 by Paul Evans

New #ukemplaw bulletin – Labour announces policy to create a single status of ‘worker’ – https://t.co/naWdwwJ1AE — Daniel Barnett (@daniel_barnett) July 26, 2021 Keir Starmer outlines this on LabourList – here. The party has been briefing that the aim here … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment Law and Rights, Employment status, Family rights, Freelancer rights, Labour Party, Minimum wage rates | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Working with children & young people, work experience, and chaperoning

Posted on July 22, 2021 by Paul Evans

Some general notes: Bectu offers a course on working regulations and policies designed to protect the child at work. This is a City & Guilds accredited course offering a practical guide to everyone working with children in the entertainment industry. … Continue reading →

Posted in Child protection and safeguarding, Employment Law and Rights, Employment status | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reputation management and censorship

Posted on July 19, 2021 by Paul Evans

Businesses are able to stifle fair comment on their practices – everything ranging from employment issues through to big global ethical matters. From Open Democracy: “Stronger leadership is needed in the UK to tackle both the safety of journalists and … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment Law and Rights, Whistleblowing, Workplaces | Tagged | Leave a comment

Lord John Hendy QC – The Status of Workers Bill.

Posted on July 19, 2021 by Paul Evans

Lord Hendy’s bill The Status of Workers Bill was introduced to the House of Lords on the 26th May 2021. It is… “A Bill to make provision for the creation of a single status for workers by amending the meaning … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment Contracts, Employment intermediaries, Employment Law and Rights, Employment status, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Gig economy workers, IR35, Personal Service Companies | Tagged , | Leave a comment

TUC insecure work report

Posted on July 15, 2021 by Paul Evans

The TUC have published a special edition of their Jobs and Recovery monitor,and this time it’s focussed on Insecure Work [PDF]. From the exec summary… The coronavirus pandemic has exposed the reality of insecure work in the UK. Care workers, … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment, Employment Contracts, Employment Law and Rights, Employment status, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Gig economy workers, Low pay, Welfare and benefits | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Unenforceable employment rights in film & TV

Posted on July 9, 2021 by Paul Evans

TUC have authored a guide to enforcing workplace rights here (it’s an MS Word doc that downloads instantly). There are two obvious ones in film & TV that we’d like to be considered in any updates. The 11-hour break between … Continue reading →

Posted in Bectu Agreements, Employment Contracts, Employment Law and Rights, Film & TV industry policy, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Gig economy workers, Long hours, Safe working practices | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Raising Films

Posted on July 9, 2021 by Paul Evans

Raising Films is an organisation with a mission to support, promote and campaign for parents and carers in the UK screen sector. It calls on the UK screen sector to recognise the value of its parent and carer members and … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronavirus, Equality, Family rights, Gender representation, Wellbeing | Tagged | Leave a comment

File of Four (BBC Radio 4) bullying survey details.

Posted on July 9, 2021 by Paul Evans

BBC bullying survey (as featured in the recent File on Four programme). This is a survey that was promoted by Bectu in June 2021. Details of the results are below (raw data is the property of the BBC and can … Continue reading →

Posted in BBC, Bullying and Harassment, Equality, Film & TV industry policy, Management, Mental Health, Safe working practices, Sexual harassment, Wellbeing, Whistleblowing, Workplace conflict | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why no contracts can be an advantage in gig worker organising

Posted on July 9, 2021 by Paul Evans

Over on Brave New Europe, Robert Ovetz argues that the lack of contractual rules governing platform workers could actually be an advantage for organised gig workers, who are increasingly relying on maximum disruption of the capital accumulation process.

Posted in Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Gig economy workers, Organising Skills, Recruitment and organising, Workplace conflict | Leave a comment

Review of the BBC’s child protection and safeguarding procedures

Posted on July 9, 2021 by Paul Evans

A detailed report on this was presented by The Good Corporation to the BBC management team containing a list of recommended actions that have now been implemented. It can be seen here [pdf] – it has stuff on whistleblowing and … Continue reading →

Posted in BBC, Child protection and safeguarding, Whistleblowing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Some wellbeing resources

Posted on July 9, 2021 by Paul Evans

My thanks to Adeel Amini of TV Mindset for sharing these resources. TV Mindset talks – wellbeing: The Science of Wellbeing – Practical Tips for Freelancers: “Stress Less” Session: Understanding Your Value in an Uncertain World: How To Deal With … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronavirus, Disability equality, Equality, Freelance working, Illness and disability, Mental Health, Wellbeing, Workplace conflict | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Can someone trading through a PSC claim employment rights from an engager?

Posted on July 7, 2021 by Paul Evans

A very interesting post on AccountingWeb. Among other cases referred to in the article, in 1994, a disgruntled individual, who was providing their services through a limited company or PSC, brought a claim for unfair dismissal. In Catamaran Cruises Ltd … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment Law and Rights, Employment status, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, IR35, Personal Service Companies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Statutory Sick Pay and freelance working

Posted on July 5, 2021 by Paul Evans

For the purposes of this post, I’m taking the term ‘freelance’ in its broadest form. Many people who are on either short fixed-term contracts, or non-permanent PAYE contracts tend to regard themselves as ‘freelancers’. People who are ‘self-employed’ have few … Continue reading →

Posted in Disability equality, Employment Law and Rights, Equality, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Illness and disability, National Insurance Contributions (NICs), Welfare and benefits | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

UK immigration codes of practice for workers in film & TV

Posted on July 1, 2021 by Paul Evans

The home office page is useful here. Scroll down to see ‘Workers in Film & TV’. The home office tell us if ‘key personnel’ (there is a definitive list – see the home office guidance) are listed but we don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in EU & Brexit, Migration & working abroad | Tagged | Leave a comment

Self-employed difficulties with tenancies.

Posted on June 28, 2021 by Paul Evans

In some cases, the self-employed are finding it almost impossible to find tenancies because of fears over irregular incomes, reports The Times [£].

Posted in Freelance working, Gig economy workers, Housing costs | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Mandatory vaccination

Posted on June 28, 2021 by Paul Evans

Useful summary of both sides to the argument here,

Posted in Coronavirus, Coronavirus, Employment Law and Rights | Tagged | Leave a comment

Pandemic impact on women’s employment

Posted on June 18, 2021 by Paul Evans

We expected women to be hardest hit jobs wise by this crisis – but we were wrong… new deep dive into the gender impact of covid out today https://t.co/NDcTQX1Kqs pic.twitter.com/hEsWzNXefz — Torsten Bell (@TorstenBell) June 14, 2021

Posted in Equality, Gender representation, Gig economy workers, Low pay | Tagged | Leave a comment