We are also engaging with the Treasury, DWP and BEIS to get clarity on policy announcements and raise the potential impacts on the recruitment industry – particularly on the calculation of number of employees to meet the 250 threshold.

Covid19. Are agency workers entitled to Statutory Sick Pay if they have to self-isolate? The short answer is yes. Watch our video. 

Budget and IR35

The REC welcomes measures announced in the budget to help businesses manage coronavirus disruption like the Statutory Sick Pay refund for SMEs. However, questions remain whether agencies which supply temporary workers will be eligible for support. We'll be raising this with Government as soon as possible.

Our Stakeholder Engagement Manger Ornella Nsio summed up the Budget announcement in her latest blog - as well as the four biggest changes to the IR35 legislation, announced earlier this month.

We have also created a new Status Determination Statement template and small companies exemption declaration you can use here. Updated contracts will be released once legislation is confirmed. All can be found on our IR35 hub.

For a deeper break down of the budget announcements, check out the joint webinar we are doing with the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) on the 16 March!

Watch our video here, as we respond to the latest budget annoucement.

Immigration

Following the worrying immigration system changes announcement, we are keeping up the campaigning work to slow down staff shortage in the UK. As the number of EU citizens arriving for work has reached its lowest since 2004, and skill shortage worries remain, we are calling for a temporary visa and 'low skilled' routes. 

As part of this effort, we went to meet with our partners at the CBI to discuss our strategy, and Policy Advisor Chris Russell spoke at the Lift the Ban Coalition Gathering on integrating asylum seekers in the employment market. He also sat on sat on a London First’s #FullStrength policy roundtable to discuss the policy priorities of the coalition in light of the newly announced immigration system.

Upcoming Policy and Campaign Events

• Driver Sector Meeting on Tuesday 17 March afternoon at REC HQ with speakers from Road Haulage Association, Driver Require and Fragomen.
• Future of Recruitment with LinkedIn - Cambridge on Tuesday 17 March morning, with speakers from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and Careers and Enterprise Company.
• Technology Sector Meeting on Wednesday 18 March afternoon at REC HQ with speakers from the Recruitment Network.

Lola Kveton - Policy Officer

Image credit | iStock