Reminder of forthcoming Changes to Employment Law

With so many changes I thought it useful to give a brief summary of forthcoming changes to employment law:

• 1st April: increase in the minimum holiday entitlement to 5.6 weeks
  Working Time (Amendment) Regulations 2007. Be aware that the new minimum of 5.6 weeks may include bank/public holidays

• 5th April: Increase in SMP, SAP and SPP
  SMP, SAP and SPP (maternity, adoption and paternity pay) increases to £123.06 (from £117.18)

• 6th April: Increase in SSP
  SSP (Statutory Sick Pay) increases to £79.15 (from £75.40)

• 6th April: extension of the right to request flexible working to parents of children up to 16 yrs (from 6 yrs)
  Flexible Working (Eligibility, Complaints and Remedies) (Amendment) Regulations 2009
  This will make a further 4.5 million workers eligible to make a flexible working request. The same request procedure and timescales apply as previously in place.

• 6th April: repeal of the statutory dispute resolution procedures
  The Employment Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2008
  ACAS Code of Practice amended to reflect this change. If you haven’t reviewed your grievance and disciplinary procedures in light of these changes you should do so.

• 6th April: unions and political party membership
  Employment Act 2008 (Commencement No. 2 Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2008
  Unions now have the power to expel or exclude an individual on the basis of their membership or former membership of a political party.

• 6th April: PAYE
  All employers who have 50 or more employees will be required to upload their forms online.
  HMRC has introduced new P45 forms which must be used from 6th April.