Do all contractors have to be assessed?
Individual contractors who are not operating via an intermediary (eg sole traders) do not need to be assessed under IR35. However, you will always have the risk with those individuals that there is no intermediary – therefore if their tax status is wrong, HMRC are very likely to consider that responsibility for this would fall on the hiring company in any event.
Related FAQs
Government’s Covid-19 landing page
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Covid-19 recovery strategy
Working safely during Covid-19
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19
Working safely during Covid-19: construction and other outdoor work
Working safely during Covid-19: factories, plants and warehouses
Working safely during Covid-19: labs and research facilities
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/labs-and-research-facilities
Working safely during Covid-19: offices and contact centres
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/offices-and-contact-centres
Working safely during Covid-19: other people’s homes
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/homes
Working safely during Covid-19: restaurants offering takeaway or delivery
Working safely during Covid-19: shops and branches
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/shops-and-branches
Working safely during Covid-19: vehicles
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/vehicles
Business support: loans, tax relief and grants for businesses, employees and self-employed people
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support
Education and childcare
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/education-and-childcare
Housing and accommodation: renting: guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities
Housing and accommodation: moving home
Housing and accommodation: planning inspections
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-planning-inspectorate-guidance
Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: NHS guidance for people working in healthcare
https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/
Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: PPE hub
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-personal-protective-equipment-ppe
Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: adult social care guidance
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-social-care-guidance
Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: shielding and protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable
Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: adult social care guidance
Healthcare workers, carers and care settings: health, care and volunteer workers parking pass and concessions
International travel and immigration: travel advice for British citizens travelling abroad
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus
International travel and immigration: foreign travel advice for each country
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
International travel and immigration: waiting to return to the UK
International travel and immigration: essential international travel guidance
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-essential-international-travel-guidance
International travel and immigration: advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents
Government’s financial support for businesses
This page help businesses find out how to access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply.
https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/
Rishi Sunak
The Twitter feed of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, where he has published various responses to some FAQs from the public.
https://twitter.com/RishiSunak
Yes, you can ask to see any information/documentation sent to an employee informing them that they should self-isolate.
Employees with visas should be treated consistently with the wider workforce. When their furlough leave ends, they should return to work and their pay should be reinstated. If you agree a pay cut or reduction in working hours, you need to ensure that sponsored workers are still earning above the minimum salary for their role and working in excess of the minimum number of hours (see above).
The flexible furlough scheme is now in place and can be used for employees who have previously been furloughed for a consecutive period of at least three weeks. The flexible furlough scheme remains in place until 31 October 2020.
The BBC
The national broadcaster’s collated content surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/coronavirus
and with regards to business:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business
Although there is no formal selection process that must be followed in order to furlough staff, the basis for selecting who will be furloughed should be explained to all relevant staff. Basing this on work levels, required skills or whether work can in fact be carried out efficiently from home will help this process. Staff can be invited to volunteer to be furloughed or re-furloughed. Any requests can be considered on a case by case basis. It may be that a particular skill set is required which may result in an employee’s request being refused.