Employment Issues
I have two jobs and have a PAYE tax code on each of these. I appear to be paying a lot of tax on one job but not as much on the other. How does this work?
When you have more than one job, all the reliefs and allowances that you are entitled to will normally be included in the tax code of your main or first job. In essence however the tax should be correct for the total amount of earnings from both jobs.
I have been passed over for a promotion at work in favour of a younger colleague with less experience. I believe I am well qualified to do this job, but my bosses think I am too old – I’m 55. Do I just have to accept that youth is a more attractive quality than experience in today’s job market?
From 1 October, an employer will no longer be allowed to discriminate against you because of your age. New rules will come into force, making it illegal to treat you less favourably than others, or to set conditions or ways of working that disadvantage you because of your age.
The new rules will cover all paid workers except for members of the armed forces. They will apply to recruitment, terms and conditions, promotions, transfers, dismissals and training.
The new rules will mean that:
- an employer must not discriminate against you, harass or victimise you because of your age
- if an employer discriminates against you because of your age, you will be able to make a complaint to an employment tribunal
- compulsory retirement will, in most cases, be illegal before the age of 65
- you will have the right to ask to work beyond the age of 65, and your employer must consider your request
- there will no longer be any upper or lower age limits for claiming Statutory Sick Pay, Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay and Statutory Adoption Pay.
I have joined an employment agency and they found me a job working on contract for three months. I will be paid through the agency and have a daily rate. The agency has told me that they will pay me extra for holiday pay as part of my daily rate. This means I will have to save up my holiday pay. I am a bit worried, as I will need to be vigilant about saving my pay for holidays. Can the agency legally pay me in this way?
No they can’t - it is against the law. Some employers and employment agencies may say that your hourly or daily rate of pay includes an amount for holiday pay, and that they expect you to save this part of your pay to cover your holidays. This is known as 'rolled up' holiday pay.
The European Court of Justice has recently ruled that it is against the law for employers to pay their employees in this way. It is only legal if your employer itemises the holiday pay separately on the pay slip and not if the daily rate of pay is simply being increased a bit.
Last updated: February 22, 2007