Author: Sophie Lewis
Four-day working week could get more workers into the office
Unispace: ‘It is perhaps no surprise that many employees are keen on a shift to a four-day working week given the increased flexibility in how and where people work. However, we feel that it could also have real benefits for many employers’.
HMRC acknowledge that R&D improvements are needed
CIOT: ‘We remain of the view that the current volume compliance approach does not work well for R&D tax relief claims, due to the complex nature of the relief and the technical consideration required in ascertaining whether or not there has been a qualifying R&D project’.
Policy makers urged to help SMEs in the lead up to Christmas spending
FSB: ‘These small businesses have already dealt with numerous challenges this year, from rising interest rates to high inflation and the extra weight of energy costs, but now is the chance to make a real difference so we can end the year on a high note’.
Self-employed sector sees significant growth
IPSE: ‘Today’s figures mark a return to year-on-year self-employment growth for a fourth consecutive quarter. This is good news for businesses looking to flexibly recruit talent at a time when economic conditions might make a permanent hire less feasible’.
Many employers failing to improve equality, diversity and inclusion
REC: ‘We urge employers to turn to professional recruitment businesses who can advise them on how to devise and implement a strategy that gives them access to the widest possible talent pool’.
Concerns remain around digital tax proposals
CIOT/ATT: ‘HMRC’s insistence that MTD will make lives easier, as well as closing the tax gap, continues to be met with scepticism. There is a real lack of confidence that a convenient, user-friendly and effective system will be ready to go by April 2026’.
HMRC pledging £5.5m in partnership funding to support those who need extra help with tax
HMRC: ‘The funding programme is an important part in our commitment to support our hardest to reach customers and builds on the current support HMRC offers to those who may need extra help with their tax affairs’.
Workplaces being supported to become more ‘menopause friendly’
CIPD: ‘We’ve been championing the importance of menopause friendly workplaces for several years and we look forward to amplifying this work. Particularly at a time when skills shortages persist, employers can’t afford to be missing out on valuable talent’.