Welcome to the October 2022 edition of Employment Matters: our round-up of the latest developments in employment law and key issues affecting employers and HR professionals.
The country seems a very different place since we last wrote to you in June. We have a new monarch, a new Prime Minister and new economic challenges to contend with.
Similarly, there have been a number of changes in the employment law sphere, with perhaps more to come. The Supreme Court gave a landmark judgment on the thorny issue of calculating holiday pay for part-year workers. The Home Office launched a new Scale-up visa to help UK companies recruit overseas talent. Yet the most radical changes were arguably those proposed by the Chancellor in his recent "mini budget". Among others, he announced a fundamental reversal in the "off payroll working" (IR35) regime; and an increase in the value of certain share options eligible for tax relief. We examine each of these important developments.
On the equalities front, protection of "gender critical" beliefs continues to make headlines, and we discuss Maya Forstater's much-publicised victory in the employment tribunal. We have also teamed up with our Surrogacy and Modern Families Team to celebrate EveryWoman Day; and to highlight how the work of our family and employment lawyers can support the health and wellbeing of women.
We conclude by focusing on practical tips. Our Investigations Team discuss the new Acas guidance on suspending employees during workplace investigations. Our White Collar Crime & Investigations Group explain what employers should be doing to comply with their health and safety duties in respect of employees and non-employees alike. And, finally, our Incentives Team set out the top 10 things everyone needs to know about share options.
As always, if you would like more information on how best to manage these and any other issues in your business, please get in touch with your usual Mishcon de Reya contact or with a member of the Employment team.