Supreme Court backs self-employed ‘worker’ status
June 2018

The Supreme Court has backed a self-employed worker’s rights in a landmark ruling that is expected to impact on the employment status of thousands of UK construction personnel.

The ruling backed an earlier employment tribunal decision that plumber Gary Smith was entitled to worker status and rights such as holiday and sick pay despite being self-employed for six years with the same firm.

Experts are divided on whether the ruling will set a precedent or set many other such claims in motion, as factors may be different in each individual case, but many believe that a current review of the existing law by Parliament might overrule this and other decisions by bringing forward new legislation in the issue.

In this week’s case, the Supreme Court ruled against an appeal by Pimlico Plumbers against the original Employment Tribunal, which had supported Gary Smith’s claim against the company.