HR reacts to 'wishy-washy' Taylor Review

The much-anticipated review of employment practices, overseen by Matthew Taylor, has had somewhat of a cautious reception from the HR world. Looking into issues within the gig-economy, including worker’s rights and general status, the review recommends that “firms which control and supervise their workers” should really pay “a range of benefits, including National Insurance”. However, this is by no means laying down regulation for them to do so.

Instead, a new worker status has been recommended – the “dependant contractor”, which affords workers more protection.

“If the government accepts its recommendation to introduce a new legally recognised employment status of 'dependent contractor',” explains Jonathan Rennie, Partner at law firm TLT, “which in turn necessitates a new definition of 'employee', then this will, as the report hints, affect other legal status definitions as well. This includes those enshrined in the Equality Act, which are different again to those in the Employment Rights Act.”

However, this is not as black and white as it may seem. Stuart Chamberlain, Lead Commentator for Wolters Kluwer Croner-i HR, wrote: “All in all, the Review is likely to come as a disappointment to those who hoped for more radical suggestions. It has already been labelled as ‘feeble’ by Thompsons, the trade union solicitors. It is wishy-washy on employment protection rights: there is a lot about ‘requesting’ and ‘receiving’ but little on ‘hard’ rights. It is also debateable whether the new employment status of ‘dependant contractor’ is necessary.