The gig economy is in the spotlight once again this week as a number of high profile cases are before the courts seeking to determine the employment status of individuals. The eagerly awaited Pimlico Plumbers case was heard by the Supreme Court last week, while the Uber case is scheduled to be heard by the Court of Appeal next month. These landmark cases could have huge ramifications for those currently employed on insecure contracts.

The timing of these cases is particularly noteworthy and will certainly bring the precarious nature of the gig economy, exploitative employment practices and the issue of insecure contracts to the fore, given that the UK government published its response to the Taylor Review only last week.