COVID-19 Employment Law changes
Since we last updated you there have been more developments employers need to know about as a result of the pandemic including:
- the Government have updated the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to deal with a number of unanswered questions;
- allowing annual leave carryover where it has not been “reasonably practicable” to take the leave; and
- putting legislation in place for emergency volunteering leave.
The Supreme Court’s decision on vicarious liability in the case of Barclays v Various Claimants.
The Supreme Court holds that Barclays were not vicariously liable for acts of an independent contractor doctor.
The Supreme Court’s decision in Mohamud v WM Morrison Supermarkets which held Morrisons was not vicariously liable for the actions of a rogue employee who committed a significant data protection breach.
6 April 2020 changes
As a result of the Coronavirus crisis, the Government has confirmed that gender pay reporting has been suspended in 2020 for those who have not already reported, and neither will the extension of IR35 to private sectors take place as planned.A number of other changes will take effect on 6 April, including changes needed to be made to s1 statements for employers, as well as extending this obligation to workers, from day one of employment/any engagement as set out in our earlier updates.