From April 24 the following National Minimum Wage will apply:
The National Living Wage (NLW) – £11.44
The 18 to 20-year old rate – £8.60
The 16 to 17-year old rate and apprentice rate – £6.40
From 1 April 2024, the NLW will be extended from workers aged 23 and over to those aged 21 and 22, who have previously been paid a lower rate.
Please ensure you make preparations and get your payroll’s sorted in time!
The Paternity Leave Amendment Regulations 2024, which will apply in all cases where the expected week of childbirth falls on or after 6 April 2024, will allow paternity leave to be split into two blocks of one week at any point in the first year after the birth or adoption of their child.
Currently fathers or partners can only take one continuous block of paternity leave of one or two weeks, and this must be taken within the first eight weeks after birth.
The notice period required for each period of leave will be shortened to 28 days, or four weeks. Under the current legislation, employees must give notice that they intend to take leave 15 weeks prior to the expected week of childbirth.
Although the regulations will apply for parents of children born or adopted on or after 6 April 2024, the regulations will come into force on 8 March.
Please contact me for a new policy!
The Employment Tribunal Appeal has found that the tribunal had been wrong to find that a claimant’s resignation in the heat of the moment during an altercation with his manager was really intended.
The claimant brought a claim for unfair and wrongful dismissal and argued that his case fell within a “special circumstances exception” (in the heat of the moment).
A resignation must be “seriously meant” or “really intended” or “conscious and rational”.
If you have a resignation, which is later retracted and you want to know where you stand, give me a call.
The civil penalties for employers employing workers illegally are due to triple!
From 22nd January 2024, the current civil penalty for employers who employ an individual without the appropriate immigration permission in the UK will rise from £15,000 per illegal worker for a first breach, to £45,000.
The current maximum of £20,000 per illegal worker for repeat breaches will rise to £60,000 per illegal worker.
Provided that a proper check has been carried out the employer will have a statutory excuse against a civil penalty if an employee is subsequently found to be illegally working in the UK.
National Minimum Wage
From April 2024, the national minimum wage will increase by almost 10% to £11.44 per hour for those aged 21 and over. For 18-20’s it will increase to £8.60 per hour and for under 18’s and apprentices it increases to £6.40 per hour.
Please ensure you make changes to your payroll and inform staff of their new rates.
New Employment Laws
Likely to come into effect during 2024 include The Carer’s Leave act, The Neonatal Care (leave and pay) Act and changes to flexible working laws.
Watch this space for more info.
What about the financial crisis, how will this continue to impact businesses?
The back end of last year I featured in HRgrapevine talking about cash V benefits. Take a read here:
New course!
If you are interested in attending a menopause session or sending your staff / managers on a course then please contact me now. Special offer for courses booked from Jan-March.