Policy hub
On your behalf
Policy team update
The CIPP’s policy and research team provide an update on developments.
A s the BeConnected National focus shifted to the continuation of the BeKnowledgeable webinars. These online presentations offer a high-level overview of topical areas that create operational challenges for payroll professionals. In 2021, the policy team have covered the subjects of: off-payroll working; national minimum wage; and holiday pay. Recordings of the sessions are still available; please contact the CIPP events team to get access. Forums drew to a close at the end of May 2021, the policy team’s Looking to the immediate future and beyond, the team have worked closely with the CIPP events team developing the content for National Payroll Week, taking place in September 2021, and for the Annual Conference which will be held the following month, in October 2021. These are some exciting opportunities to learn, collaborate and celebrate the profession, so please take the time to join the celebrations. The Queen’s speech In just ten minutes, the Queen’s speech was delivered on 11 May 2021 at the House of Commons. The ceremony was more scaled-back than is the tradition, as a result of the coronavirus and social distancing restrictions. The key areas of focus in the speech were: the environment; ‘levelling up’; education; housing; security; and the armed forces. The speech introduced the Skills and Post-16 Education Bill, which has been designed to transform post-16 education and training. Its aim is to make skills training more readily available to support people to get into work. The Bill also includes the lifetime skills guarantee, which will work to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their background or where they live, will be able to gain the skills required to progress in work at any point in their lives. In the speech, the Queen said that:
parental bereavement leave and statutory parental bereavement pay. In addition, there is also a helpful flowchart relating to the coronavirus job retention scheme and the change to eligibility criteria for claim periods between May 2021 and September 2021. Within the policy hub, there are a variety of webcasts, and we aim to publish a new one each month. The webcasts are particularly beneficial for those individuals who are auditory learners. Following on from the publication of several documents on ‘Tax Day’ there has been a significant focus on consultations and calls for evidence. Members can locate the CIPP’s previous formal responses to government consultations within the policy hub. The responses that the CIPP submits incorporate the views of members. What policy can do for you The policy team carries out research into issues that are impacting payroll professionals. We really appreciate views, opinions and feedback from members and encourage you to get in touch about payroll policies that are working well, or those that are not. You can contact the team at policy@cipp.org.uk . Additionally, if there is anything you feel that the team should be discussing, please contact us at the same address. There are various ways in which you can get involved and have your say. The list below is not exhaustive but provides examples of the platforms you can use to share your ideas and shape the future of payroll policy: ● consultation roundtable thinktank meetings ● events – add your opinions into the Q&A chat boxes, or share your comments when face-to-face events resume ● respond to the CIPP’s Quick Polls which are hosted on the News Online page ● respond to surveys produced by the policy team. n
“Eight new Freeports will create hubs for trade and help regenerate communities”, and that “[m]easures will be introduced to provide National Insurance contribution relief for employers of veterans.” The National Insurance Contributions Bill (http://ow.ly/UwY630rIH3z), provides National Insurance contributions relief for employers of veterans (available from 6 April 2021) and for employers in Freeports (proposed from 6 April 2022). It also works to strengthen the existing powers that HM Revenue & Customs has to act decisively in situations where it is aware of, or suspects, that avoidance schemes are being operated. ...works to strengthen the existing powers that HM Revenue & Customs has to act... Helpful resources The CIPP’s website is a great resource for payroll professionals, and the policy team wanted to highlight the wealth of information that is available. Members have access to enhanced features and can make use of a variety of different tools, including factsheets and webcasts. The factsheets are intended to provide a high-level overview of some of the processes that payroll teams are responsible for and can be printed for use as a handy reference tool, a training aid, or as an appendix to departmental standard operating procedures. The factsheets are updated on a regular basis, and the topics covered at the time of writing are as follows: redundancy; termination payments; statutory sick pay; statutory maternity pay; optional remuneration arrangements; payrolling of benefits; coronavirus sick pay rebate scheme;
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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward |
Issue 72 | July / August 2021
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