Acas has launched new and updated guidance to help employers and workers understand the many different types of employment arrangements that exist in the modern workplace and their legal entitlements. The revised guidance is released against the backdrop of Matthew Taylor’s review on modern workplaces and reflects changes to the way in which people work, are expected to work in the future, and follows recent legal cases about employment status.

The guidance covers three main types of employment status: employee, worker and self-employed. The new revised guidance includes a larger focus on people who are self-employed and umbrella companies (which often act as an employer to contractors usually through a recruitment agency).

Acas’ employment status advice also
• Agency workers
• Apprentices
• Fixed Term Workers
• Peripatetic workers (workers with no fixed work base)
• Piece work
• Volunteers, work experience and internships
• Zero-hours contracts.

This update provides summary information and comment on the subject areas covered. Where employment tribunal and appellate court cases are reported, the information does not set out all of the facts, the legal arguments presented and the judgments made in every aspect of the case. Click on the links to access full details. If no link is provided, contact us for more information.  Employment law is subject to constant change either by statute or by interpretation by the courts. While every care has been taken in compiling this information, SM&B cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Specialist legal advice must be taken on any legal issues that may arise before embarking upon any formal course of action.