Employed or Self Employed?

Are you Employed, a worker or Self Employed? In many businesses individuals sign contracts specifying they are self-employed contractors. The Employment Tribunal will look beyond the wording of the contract to see the reality of the working relationship.

If the individual can be hired and fired, if the business controls the way that the individuals undertakes the role, is paid exclusively by the business, is provided with tools and transport by the ‘employer’ and has to provide the work personally (cannot send a substitute) – the Tribunal is likely to conclude that the independent contractor is, in fact, an employee.

The individuals will then have the rights that an employee would have. The Tribunal will not be persuaded by words used in one document if the reality of the relationship between the parties suggests a different status.

Many individuals, particularly those working in the ‘gig-economy’ are found instead to be workers, who share some rights with employees.

Recent changes to the law have introduced a new employment status of Employee Shareholder. Here an employee agrees to forego some employment rights in return for shares. There are strict requirements for such a relationship to exist. We are able to advise you in relation to these requirements.