Pensions auto-enrolment delayed for UK’s smallest firms
Contractors working through an umbrella company may be interested to learn that small firms have been given an extra year to comply with pensions auto-enrolment.
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Public sector strike action could affect umbrella company contractors
Freelancers, contractors and small business owners may want to make preparations so that they are not affected by public sector strikes.
Working from home is good for your health
New figures show that the proportion of people working from home dropped slightly last year.
Public sector pay comes under the spotlight
Umbrella company contractors may be interested to learn that public sector pay has risen at a faster rate than it has in the private sector.
Job prospects for contractors largely sector related
Umbrella company contractors may already be aware that some industry sectors are doing better than others. Prospects in the IT and telecoms sector for example are blooming whilst public sector opportunities are diminishing fast for obvious reasons.
AWR implementation moves a step closer
The Agency Worker Regulations were back on everybody’s mind at the end of last week. Following publication of the draft guidelines last Thursday, a two week consultation period is under way during which time the REC will be collecting feedback from its members and submitting a response to the BIS. …
AWR implementation moves a step closer » Read the full story
Umbrella company maternity leave will remain as it is at least till next year
Maternity leave will not be extended to 20 weeks after the European parliament voted to turn down amendments to the Pregnant Workers Directive.
Are the government increasing the North/South divide?
We are likely to witness a new North/South divide, courtesy of the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review, according to thinktanks and unions.
Default retirement age expected to be scrapped
The coalition is considering scrapping the default retirement age as from October next year.
Concerns over affects of tax hikes and spending cuts
George Osborne is due to give his emergency budget on June 22nd and it seems everybody wants to give him advice! Any measure introduced could affect umbrella companies.
What does the Queen’s speech mean for contractors?
The REC is understandably delighted that George Osborne has reversed part of the plan to increase NICs. They had opposed the move, as had all business bodies, as the potential cost would have prevented the jobs market recovering fully from the recession.