Lawspeed has read and analysed the Taylor review published this week. It is an aspirational document full of recommendations, but as it is only advisory its impact will only really be known if and when the government adopts any of the proposals. Furthermore, the recommendations could be adopted wholesale, with a light touch, or […]
Read moreWhere a hirer or RPO sends its own form of contract to an agency for signature, it is important to have the contract independently reviewed by experts to ensure that it does not include onerous clauses, exposing the agency to risk. Ravi Murphy, director at the recruitment law and compliance specialists Lawspeed, explains the common […]
Read moreSince the onset of the new IR35 rules, it appears that many contractor jobs are now being advertised as ‘outside IR35’. At the same time, assessments of the application of the new tax law rely upon HMRC’s controversial online Employment Status Service (ESS) tool. Are public sector hirers mistaken to rely on the tool, and […]
Read moreThe new IR35 rules effective from 6th April 2017 were predicted by some to harbour disaster for public sector hirers, as key contractors were set either to walk out or increase their rates. However with hundreds of jobs now advertised as ‘outside IR35’, has HMRC strategy been defeated already, or is the ground set for […]
Read moreOn Friday last week the Association of Recruitment Consultancies (ARC) was told that its critique of the proposed new IR35 rules was to be published by the Treasury Select Committee. “The critique was based upon advice we provided to ARC” says Ravi Murphy, client services director of Lawspeed, the specialist legal and compliance consultancy to […]
Read moreThe changes to IR35 in the public sector may be hogging the headlines, but recruiters should not overlook the other important changes this month, including the Apprenticeship Levy, Gender Pay Gap (GPG) reporting, increases in the national minimum wages, changes to statutory payment rates, and the modern slavery disclosure duty all starting to kick in. […]
Read moreSince April 2016 all businesses with an annual turnover above £36m are obliged by the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (MSA) to publish Slavery and Human Trafficking statements (SHTs), setting out the steps that they have taken to combat modern slavery within their businesses and supply chains (including the recruitment agencies they use). However, as Ravi […]
Read moreChanges to the IR35 rules relating to the supply of contractors in the public sector will apply from 6 April 2017, meaning that, where IR35 applies, a recruiter will be responsible for accounting to HMRC for PAYE and NICs, including employers NICs, on payments it makes to a personal service company. Whilst there are a […]
Read moreRecruiters often find that they have nowhere to go for help with navigating the contractual and legal minefield of fee recovery, with the result that some clients think that they can simply ignore or refuse to pay agency fees. As a response to growing concerns from recruitment agencies, Lawspeed has developed a fixed price Agency […]
Read moreThere is much concern about the new public sector IR35 rules, which are proposed to apply from 6th April 2017, for a host of reasons. One such reason is that where an agency or third party is to be the fee payer, there is no provision for the hirer to be liable if the fee […]
Read moreAs we warned some time ago, proposed changes in the law mean that even recruitment agencies with modest turnovers could now be affected by the modern slavery legislation (click here for previous article). The modern slavery reporting obligation currently only applies to businesses with a UK turnover in excess of £36m. Any requirement involving turnover […]
Read moreThe idea of ‘painting a picture’ in order to make a well-rounded assessment of employment status is a widely acknowledged one. However in light of the more ‘mechanical’ approach soon to be taken by HMRC with regards to arguably one of the most nuanced tests, IR35, a recent case reiterates again the need to make […]
Read moreOn 6th January, representatives of the Association of Recruitment Consultancies (ARC) attended a meeting with HMRC officials to discuss the proposed new public sector IR35 rules and to comment on the latest version of HMRC’s planned new online tool. “The meeting, which was attended by a number of large agencies and some public sector representatives, […]
Read moreA stark reminder was handed down recently by the courts – comply with the legislation or face the consequences! The director of Whites Recruitment International pleaded guilty to eight charges contrary to the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 (Conduct Regulations) for failing to supply workers with the necessary paperwork and for […]
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