In amongst the chaos of the last month, there are a few employment law updates that you need to be aware of coming up in April.
Parental Bereavement Leave
This new right will come into effect on Monday and will give all employed parents a day-one right to 2 weeks’ leave if they lose a child under the age of 18, or suffer a stillbirth from 24 weeks of pregnancy. If you are a client and your agreement with us includes a Document Review, we will send you some updated wording to add to your staff handbook as soon as the link goes live on the government website.
Employment Contracts
Contracts of Employment are to be given from day 1 (as opposed to the 2 months we had previously) and this also includes workers now too. Provision of a Worker Contract is a day 1 right for temporary and casual workers.
Holiday Pay
Holiday pay for those working irregular hours or that have varied pay is to be calculated with reference to the previous 12 months (as opposed to 12 weeks).
Rates increases
Maternity Pay, Paternity Pay, Adoption Pay and Shared Parental Leave
To increase from £148.68 to £151.20 (or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings if this figure is less than the statutory rate)
Statutory Sick Pay
Increases from £94.25 to £95.85
Redundancy Payments and Basic Award
Increases to £538 per week up to a maximum of £16,140
Maximum Compensatory Award in Tribunal
£88,519
National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage
From 1 April 2020
- Workers aged 25 and over (National Living Wage) = £8.72 an hour
- Workers aged 21–24 = £8.20 an hour
- Development rates for workers aged 18–20 = £6.45 an hour
- Young workers rate for workers aged 16–17 = £4.55 an hour
- Apprentices under 19, or over 19 and in first year of the apprenticeship = £4.15 an hour
Increase in Compensation Brackets for Injury to Feelings in Discrimination and Whistleblowing cases
- Lower Band - £900 to £9000
- Middle Band - £9000 to £27000
- Upper Band - £27,000 to £45,000
- Exceptional cases - £45,000 - unlimited
If you have any questions about any of the above, please do not hesitate to
contact us.