Zeroing in

Expect more examples of the caring nature of employment at BBC News this week, as the test case of Eades, Gosling and Willcox v HMRC is heard at a tax tribunal in the High Court.

David, Joanna and Tim faces a joint bill of nearly a million pounds from the tax man (on top of legal costs if they lose) who is arguing that, though paid through personal service companies since 2003, they were effectively BBC employees who should have been paying the standard rates of income tax and national insurance through PAYE. The three say they were forced into starting the PSCs (how long can the BBC say this isn't so ?) and treated as freelancers on zero hours contracts, with no cover for injury, illness, maternity leave, etc, and no guarantees as to future employment.

There are thought to be around another 100 cases in dispute with HMRC waiting for the outcome of this case.