New Legislation:

We can assist you with updating your policies and procedures to comply with new legislation.

Retirement
The Employment Equality (Repeal of Retirement Age Provisions) Regulations 2011 will come into force on 6 April 2011
(6 April 2011)

New Benefit Rates
Statutory maternity pay (SMP), statutory adoption pay (SAP) and statutory paternity pay (SPP) will increase from a weekly rate of £124.88 to £128.73. Statutory sick pay (SSP) rises from £79.15 to £81.60 per week. The lower earnings limit (for qualification for benefits) is also set to increase from £97 to £102 per week.
(from April 2011)

Basic State Pension Uprate
Pensions will rise each year by earnings, inflation, or 2.5%, whichever is the higher.
(from April 2011)

Additional Paternity Leave and Pay
Legislation put in place in April 2010 permits new fathers to take up to six months'additional paternity leave where the child's mother has returned to work before the end of her period of statutory maternity leave (52 weeks). These provisions apply to employees whose expected week of childbirth (or notification of being matched with a child for adoption)occurs on or after 3 April 2011. The provisions for two weeks' (ordinary) paternity leave are unchanged.
(April 2011)

Flexible Working
Eligible employees are able to request flexible working to care for any child under 18 (previously under 17 or, if disabled, under 18)
(from April 2011)

Employers can take positive action to improve diversity
The right to take positive action between two equally qualified candidates comes into force.
(from April 2011)

Public Sector Equality Duty
The Equality Act 2010 includes a new Public Sector Equality Duty, replacing the separate duties on public bodies relating to race, disability and sex equality. The new duty covers age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, and gender reassignment, more fully.
(from April 2011)

Increase in employee personal allowance and National Insurance contributions
The personal allowance for basic rate taxpayers aged 65 and under is to increase by £1000 to £7475 in April 2011. From 6 April 2011, the rate of primary (employee) Class 1 National Insurance contributions will increase to 12%
(April 2011)

Increase in National Minimum Wage rates
The Government has announced that the National Minimum Wage rates will increase on 1 October as follows: the adult rate will rise by 15p to £6.08 per hour the rate for 18 to 20-year-olds will rise by 6p to £4.98 per hour the rate for 16 to 17-year-olds will rise by 4p to £3.68 per hour the apprentices’ rate will rise by 10p to £2.60 per hour.
(1 October 2011)

Agency Workers
To receive equal rights to staff employed by end user after 12 weeks engagement.
(October-December 2011)

Pensions Bill
Automatic enrolment of eligible employees into pension schemes with mandatory employer contributions.
(2012)

Statutory Redundancy Pay and Unfair Dismissal compensation limits
The limit on the amount of the compensatory award for unfair dismissal will increase from £68,400 to £72,300 from 1 February 2012. Other increases include the following.
The maximum amount of a "week's pay" for the purposes of calculating a basic or additional award of compensation for unfair dismissal or redundancy payment will rise from £400 to £430. The new limits are applicable where the event that gives rise to the award or payment occurs on or after 1 February 2012.
(February 2012)

Rate of statutory guarantee payments
The maximum amount of guarantee payment payable to an employee in respect of any day will increase from £22.20 to £23.50.
(February 2012)

New Benefit Rates
Statutory maternity pay (SMP), statutory adoption pay (SAP) and statutory paternity pay (SPP) will increase from a weekly rate of £128.73 to £135.45. Statutory sick pay (SSP) rises from £81.60 to £85.85 per week. The lower earnings limit (for qualification for benefits) is also set to increase from £102 to £107 per week.
(from April 2012)

(Dates) shown are the planned or actual implementation dates.