Employers squeezed as wages and National Insurance rise

In Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ 2024 Autumn Budget, she announced over £40 billion of tax increases, as the Government attempts to fill a £22 billion gap in public finances. The headline measure was a rise in employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs), from 13.8 per cent (where applicable) to 15 per cent. The Chancellor also reduced the…

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Bad debts on the rise – Time to crack down

As we approach the end of the year, one trend has become increasingly concerning for UK businesses – debts are on the rise. According to a recent report, small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have seen the value of bad debt surge by 127 per cent over the past six months. This figure is alarmingly high,…

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Businesses left to pick up the tab for Employment Rights Bill

The Government estimates that new obligations placed on employers under the Employment Rights Bill could result in substantial compliance costs – totalling around £5 billion. The Bill will introduce a ban on many zero-hour contracts and extend day one employment rights across several areas, such as protection from unfair dismissal and parental leave. For employers,…

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