2018 is set to be another interesting year for our employer clients. Those of you who attended Stephen Newman’s seminar on the EU General Data Protection Regulation will be ready to comply with the new rules when they are introduced on 25 May 2018.

In the recent case of King v The Sash Window Workshop Ltd the European Court of Justice (ECJ) held that any workers who have been wrongly classified as self-employed contractors have the right to claim backdated holiday pay in respect of their entire duration of employment.

Successful discrimination cases can attract compensation for both financial and non- financial loss. Compensation may also be payable for injury to feelings even in circumstances where there has been no financial loss.

The recent European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling in the case of Bogdan Bărbulescu provides guidance for employers’ on the extent to which they can monitor their employees’ emails in the workplace.

On 26 July 2017 fees to access the Employment Tribunal system were abolished and therefore it is now free to bring an employment claim in the Tribunal.Those that have paid the fees since their implementation in 2013 and prior to their abolishment are to be refunded.

Tomorrow, 30 September 2017, 2 new corporate offences of failing to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion, which potentially imposes liability on employers as a result of their employees’ actions, comes into force.

A major report into the UK’s current and potential future working practices was published last week. Authored by Matthew Taylor, a former Government Advisor, its’ main points recommend a number of key changes to how those people active in the so called “Gig economy” should be treated.

The Supreme Court’s decision that fees to access the employment tribunal system are unlawful is a game changer for employees and employers.