Self-employed Articles

A landmark court ruling has found that Uber drivers are not self-employed contractors and can be classed as employees.

The employment tribunal ruled that the taxi app drivers are entitled to minimum wage and other benefits.

It was the case of the decade for employment law – pitting the popular lift hailing app company against one of Britain’s most powerful unions in a tribunal case that threatens to shatter the so-called ‘gig economy.’

The ruling isn’t just important for Uber, its drivers and its customers - it could also have more far reaching consequences for other self-employed contractors and their employers.

In this blog post we take a closer look at the case and evaluate some of the potential consequences of the ruling.

A month after HMRC told Deliveroo that is needs to pay its drivers the minimum wage, two more legal cases further highlight the issue of modern day payment practices. 

The so-called ‘case of the year for UK employment law’ will see a group of Uber taxi drivers go to a tribunal to argue that they are not self-employed and so are entitled to employment benefits like sick pay and holiday pay.

Experts believe that the outcome of this legal challenge could send a shockwave through the jobs market. The ruling could influence employment practices in a range of sectors and industries. 

Two organisations representing the interests of small business owners and self-employed workers have urged the Chancellor to deliver a budget that backs enterprise on Wednesday.

George Osborne, they argue, has to recognise the impact that small businesses have on the economy in terms of driving growth and creating jobs.

At a time when tax and pension changes are making things difficult for business owners, it is crucial that the Budget statement sends a strong signal to small businesses.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) used its pre-budget statement to urge the Chancellor to reform business rates and simplify the tax system.