If it looks like a duck…

And then there are those speakers who are known. Some have been great, but last week, during the intro video I was tempted to get up and walk out.

I didn’t, as I have a loyalty to the event organisers, but I wasn’t happy.

Charlie Mullins formally of Pimlico Plumbers.

One of the questions we get asked on a regular basis is about the employment status of workers. Are they employees? Are they self-employed?

The main employment law case we now reference is Gary Cook vs Pimlico Plumbers. Gary Cook was in the Gig Economy – he was a ‘self-employed’ plumber, ‘employed’ by Pimlico Plumbers. He had a heart attack and claimed sick pay.

This opened up a huge can of worms, but in short, the Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeals Tribunal and the Supreme Court all found in Mr Cook’s favour.

Even on stage on Monday, 6 years after the rulings against him, Charlie Mullins claimed that the judges in all the cases were wrong and he was right.

I don’t deny he has built a successful business, but at what cost?

As we await the new Employment Rights Bill from Labour, we already know that there is going to be a tightening of the legislation in this area.

Neither employees, nor employers get to choose employment status – it is a matter of law, whether you agree with the law or not.

While we don’t have the details yet, we know there is going to be a move to a single ‘worker’ status and workers will have more rights from day 1.

As for Charlie Mullins, he is off to open up a new business and is making all employees shareholders in the company.

To many this sounds like a lovely thing to do, but those of us in the know understand that this means that those employees have to give up certain employment law protections, including the protections again unfair dismissal, the right to statutory redundancy pay and the right to flexible working.

As an employer, think about what you can and do provide to your staff.

What would they appreciate?

Ask them!

It doesn’t have to be financial.