Pimlico plumbers ruling to place extra burden on HR

A plumber has won a legal battle for working rights in a Supreme Court ruling - a case which calls into question the rights of Britain's growing cohort of freelance workers.

BBC News reports that Gary Smith, a plumber who worked at Pimlico Plumbers for six years as a contractor, paying self-employed tax and being VAT-registered, has won the battle against his employer to be classified as a worker.

In 2010 when he requested to reduce his hours following a heart attack, the firm refused, taking his branded van off him. He also claims he was dismissed as a result.

The actions of his employer led to the tribunal at Britain’s highest court to rule Smith was treated as a worker, rather than a contractor. This means he would be entitled to employment rights such as holiday and sick pay.