Providers will be hoping that the Government’s acceptance that previous guidance was misleading, as per the 26 July 2017 announcement, means that they will not need to repay alleged before February 2015. Even payments for that period are, in our view, something that the Government should not require, given the approach to enforcement taken by HMRC until summer 2016 about sleep-ins. This is in addition to the obvious failure to properly consider why time spent asleep in a sleep-in is working time when time spent asleep in a live-in care setting isn’t. The circumstances of the “sleep” in both settings is not materially different. With the Mencap case not being heard until March 2018, and the fact that the case won’t be considering an argument that a sleep-in is unmeasured work, we consider final certainty on this issue is still a long time away.
In the meantime, as the Government confirmed on 26 July 2017, it expects all employers to pay their workers as set out in the BEIS guidance ‘Calculating the National Minimum Wage’ and any employer underpaying their staff for “sleep-in” shifts following that date will be liable to pay financial penalties. Providers need to be aware that where a care worker is doing time/salaried work, even when they are asleep and waiting to work, HMRC will take the view that they are in fact likely to be working where:
Our team of NMW experts that have experience of, and can assist with:
For further information and assistance with any NMW issues or HMRC inspections, please contact Anna Dabek, Matthew Wort or your usual contact in our employment team.
We have submitted our response to the White Paper Consultation based on the discussion held at the “Planning for the Future - what does this mean for affordable housing” webinar we held on Fri 9 Oct
Anthony Collins Solicitors is pleased to have been ranked as a Band 1 firm once again.
Since March 2020, commercial property owners and occupiers across many sectors, whether housing associations, charities, care providers or local authorities, have been impacted by the rules regulating how they deal with their tenants and their landlords. It seems each week there is a change in policy, regulation or legislation, governing how they must respond.
A key element of the Bill is the establishment of a duty holder regime and requirement to maintain the ‘golden thread of information’ throughout the life cycle of high-risk residential buildings
We have been working with care homes to update their contracts and advise on the risks of charging the resident a regular “top-up” or additional fee where a resident is funded through NHS CHC
The parliamentary processes are complete and the Restriction of Public Exit Payments Regulations 2020 (“the Regulations”) which cap exit payments in the public sector at £95,000 will be in force from 4 November.
As the UK’s social housing sector recovers from the initial Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown, now is the time to focus on the challenges that may emerge next.
There is no universal approach to regenerating town centres. However, housing must be considered a key part of any regeneration project – providing well-needed new homes and economic growth.
Friday 16 October marks the 6th annual Wear Red Day in England, Wales and Scotland. Wear Red Day is the brainchild of the charity; Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC). SRTRC aims to educate young people so they are equipped to recognise and challenge stereotypes, misconceptions and negative attitudes towards race.
Alongside the Building Safety Bill published in July 2020, the Fire Safety Bill is a key step in the Government’s strategy to improve building and fire safety in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy
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