The Royal Society of Arts (RSA) has published the results of a study it has carried out into self-employment. Entitled "7 portraits of modern work in the UK", it takes a close look at different segments of self-employment and pulls together the main concerns expressed by the workers surveyed. Below is the RSA's blog about the report, followed by a link to the report itself.We set out to find out how workers are faring both in terms of their experiences of economic security and the quality of … [Read more...]
Strap yourself in for another eventful year!
First of all, as this is our first post of 2018, a Happy New Year to all our followers and readers! Whatever you did over the break, we hope you managed to relax, have fun and recharge the batteries.Get ready for another 12 months of turbulence and change!So, after the roller-coaster ride of 2017, what can we expect from 2018? In these crazy times, it’s impossible to make any firm predictions about anything – even on who will be running the country by the end of the year or where we’ll … [Read more...]
Turbulent times in the UK’s gig economy
With another shocking story coming to light of contractors being ripped off in a tax scam, and gig-economy bosses being hauled before parliament to explain themselves, many would be forgiven for thinking things are seriously wrong in the temporary working sector. While there certainly are many causes for concern, there's no doubt that flexible working is here to stay. Not only is it helping to drive our economy forward, but it suits the lifestyles of millions of working people across the … [Read more...]
Unions plan mass recruitment of precarious workers and nationwide action
Unions are looking to copy the successes of Momentum in recruiting young members.The TUC unanimously passed a motion today to build union membership amongst gig economy workers and union leaders are promising to ‘get a million precarious workers on the streets’ next year. Is this the beginning of a new trade unionism?Recognising the successes of the McDonald’s strike and industrial action by other precarious workers around the country, trade union leaders appear to be gearing up for a … [Read more...]
Self-employment driven by higher earners, says report
The rapid growth of self-employment in the UK has been driven more by people in higher-paid than low-paid work, according to a new report. The analysis comes from the Resolution Foundation, an economic think-tank.It says the "privileged" self-employed, with good educational qualifications and higher earnings, made up 57% of the growth in self-employment after 2009.Among them were people working in law, accountancy, health services and management consultancy.The think tank says they … [Read more...]
Booming gig economy is bad for UK public finances, says TUC
Low-paid self-employment and zero-hours contracts are costing more than £75m a week in lost taxes and national insurance contributions, new research indicates.The rapid rise in insecure work in the UK is costing the government almost £4bn a year in lost tax income and benefit payouts, according to new research into the gig economy by the Trades Union Congress.The UK’s growing legions of low-paid, self-employed workers and those on zero-hours contracts earn significantly less than regular … [Read more...]
Hermes facing legal challenge from its self-employed workers
Move is being led by GMB union on behalf of couriers who believe delivery company wrongly classes them as self-employedHermes, the courier company that delivers parcels for John Lewis and Next, is facing a legal claim from workers who believe they are wrongly classed as self-employed, according to the Labour MP Frank Field.Speaking on Thursday, he said the move is being orchestrated by the GMB union. It follows a Guardian investigation that found Hermes was paying some of its couriers at … [Read more...]
Status of ‘gig’ economy workers thrown into question again
The status of workers in the ‘gig’ economy has been thrown back into the spotlight, following a ruling that a courier with logistics firm City Sprint should be classed as a worker rather than self-employed.The BBC reported late last week a tribunal classed Maggie Dewhurst, the courier in question, as a worker, and therefore should be entitled to basic rights including holiday and sick pay, and the National Living Wage.City Sprint said it was "disappointed" at the ruling and will review … [Read more...]
Jobs of the future may not have stable hours, holiday pay, sick pay, or pensions, DWP secretary says
Damian Green describes development in the labour market as 'exciting'.Jobs of the future may not have stable hours, holiday pay, sick pay, or pensions, the Work and Pensions Secretary has said.Damian Green described the trend in employment practices towards the so-called “gig economy” as “exciting” and said the changes had “huge potential”.The Cabinet minister’s endorsement of the approach comes a month after an employment tribunal found that drivers for the Uber car service should … [Read more...]
Know your status, Know your rights
It’s been a particularly crazy couple of weeks; Uber, Delivery firm Hermes, Deliveroo and Amazon. Whilst this ever growing list will no doubt expand further, partnering with a reputable and credible payroll provider will help mitigate this risk.Highlighted below is an overview of recent cases;The Uber tribunal concluded that Uber drivers should be classified as “workers” rather than self-employed, meaning they will be entitled to certain statutory rights such as minimum wage. Commenting … [Read more...]