With April being the start of the new financial year there has been a number of important employment law changes in 2019 that employers and employees should know about.
Here are five changes to look out for:
Increase in National Minimum wage
As part of the Budget announcements, the government also announced the increases in the rates for the National Living Wage and the National Minimum wage from April 2019.
The hourly rate for the minimum wage depends on your age and whether you are an apprentice, here are these year’s rates compared to last year.
Increased statutory family and sick pay rates
The Government released the statutory rates last month for maternity, paternity, shared parental pay, adoption and sick pay.
The weekly rate of statutory sick pay increased to £94.25 from April the 6th 2019 and the weekly rate for statutory maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental pay was also increased to £148.68.
Employers should make sure that staff currently on or due to go on maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parent leave or sick leave are paid the increased rates.
Compensation limits on unfair dismissal
It’s important for employers to note that the tribunal compensation limits also increased from April the 6th 2019. The new rates are:
- Maximum compensatory award for unfair dismissal: £86.444
- Minimum basic award for unfair dismissal: £6,408
- Maximum basic award for unfair dismissal and statutory redundancy payment: £15,750
- Limit for a week’s pay: £525
- Limit on guaranteed payments: £29
The changes will apply to dismissals occurred after the 6th of April 2019. If an employee was given notice prior to April the 6th, but the notice period expired after the 6th of April, the new rates will apply.
Parental bereavement leave
Although this change won’t take place just yet, the government confirmed in last month’s Budget that the new Parental bereavement leave and pay will be introduced from April 2020. Under the new Parental Bereavement Act, primary cares and not just parents will be entitled to time off work following the death of a child.
This will include guardians, foster parents, adopters, close relatives and family friends. Parents or guardians will be able to take at least two weeks’ leave following the loss of a child under the age of 18 or a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Payslips
Lastly, new legislation came into force last month that requires all employers to provide payslips to all workers.
From April 2019 payslips will not include the number of hours worked, making it easier for workers to check they are being paid the correct amount. The new law will make sure all workers will benefit from receiving payslips.
For more details on your employment rights please give us a call or fill in the contact form and we will get in touch.
