This employment law update covers return to work issues for office based companies. In particular, government guidance on providing a safe working environment, whether employers can impose compulsory vaccination policies and whether employees have the right to work from home.
Our latest employment law update covers extension to the furlough scheme, IR35 and recent Supreme Court decisions on the national minimum wage not applying to sleeping time and Uber drivers being workers not self-employed contractors. Also a new employment bill and current rates.
As of 1 June 2021, the moratorium on the eviction of residential tenants has now been lifted.
This means that landlords who have possession orders can now proceed as normal with obtaining an eviction date with the bailiffs to remove their tenants.
However, all residential landlords should be aware that there is a significant backlog of cases, and it remains to be seen how quickly new eviction dates can be obtained.
Is everything back to normal?
The short answer is no.
The furlough scheme/ CJRS has now been extended to 30th September 2021 following the Government’s latest announcement on 3 March. However, the Government’s contribution will be reduced by 10% in July and by 20% in August with employers required to make up the difference.
Pending any further changes, the extended Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will apply up to 30 September 2021 as follows:
Although the UK left the EU on 31 January 2020, the rules relating to EU membership including ‘free movement of workers’ have continued to apply under the transition period. This ended on 31st December 2020. After this date, EU Nationals who were resident in the UK before 31 December 2020 can continue to work in the UK provided they apply for settled or pre settled status before 30 June 2021. However, employers will need a sponsorship licence to employ EU Nationals who come to the UK after 31 December 2020. Details are set out below.
EU Settlement Scheme