We’re not your average HR consultancy. Led by Sam Swinstead, a plain-talking HR professional with over 20 years of experience, we focus on sensible, practical advice that gets results.
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From 6 April employers may no longer be required to pay Employers Secondary Class 1 NI contributions for apprentices aged under 25. This applies to any earnings up to the Upper Earnings Limit which is £827 per week - more than most apprentices are being paid we are...
Today may be International Women’s Day but we will have to wait for another couple of years to see the results of the Gender Pay Gap Report. It is expected the Equality Act 2010 (Gender Pay Gap Information) Regulations 2016 will come into force on 1 October 2016...
Confused over National Living Wage? You may have seen adverts on TV talking about the new National Living Wage and still be wondering if it affects you and your business. Here are the key points in summary: 1. This NLW is a new statutory rate for employees and workers...
Penalties for Exclusivity Clauses in Zero Hours Contacts came into force 11 January 2016. Zero hours contracts can no longer contain exclusivity clauses that forbid employees working for another employer; this was prohibited in May 2015 but there was no penalty for an...
National Minimum Wage increases today. Just a reminder that the National Minimum Wage increases take effect from today as follows: 21 & over £6.70... 18-20 £5.30 Under 18 £3.87 Apprentice £3.30 These rates apply to anyone over school leaving age. The apprentice...
The European Court of Justice has reached a decision that travel time at the start and end of each working day for workers with no fixed place of work, often referred to as Mobile Workers, will now count as working time for the purpose of compliance with the Working...
So the summer is almost finished and the summer Holiday Pay frenzy is over for another year but recently there has been a case with the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) regarding holiday pay and sick leave that you should all be aware of. The issues raised in the...
We're sure you've heard this from a dozen or more sources already but we could hardly let the budget go by without commenting on the employment implications. We applaud the government for their worthy intentions to increase the National Minimum Wage (with a name...
Just when we think we've got it all clear about holiday pay the tribunal decision that ruled commission should be taken into account when calculating holiday pay is being appealed! This case has been bounced from tribunal to ECJ and back again and now it seems the...
Great Employment Law Update from our friends at DC Employment as ever - this time with a useful round up of the employment law promises being made by each of the three major political parties. http://www.dcemploymentsolicitors.co.uk/news/the-employment-law-update/
Take care when making deductions from wages! All savvy employers know they need to ensure their contract of employment allows for making deductions from wages for things like overpayments made in error or to have employees repay training fees. If the contract or a...
Well it's official - commission must be taken into account when calculating holiday pay, although we still now await more info on what this ruling by the tribunal means in practical terms - no guidance yet on HOW you actually need to calculate this. But wait we hear...
All change! It's that time of year when employment laws get changed so be prepared for the following from the start of April. Regulation changes take effect from 5 April and financial changes take effect from 6 April - just to keep things a little confused!: 1. Shared...
We have finally done it! Our parental & carer policies are updated ready for all the changes that come into effect on 5 April 2015. We've amended our maternity, paternity, adoption polices and we've drafted a shared parental leave policy. We've also updated our...
The Northern Ireland Equality Commission have been found guilty of indirect sex discrimination and although the tribunal recognised they had done so unintentionally they were still ordered to pay £8,000 to the claimant. Simply put, indirect sex discrimination...
Landmark news regarding holiday pay and overtime. Holiday pay should include overtime. The Employment Appeals Tribunal today ruled that holiday pay calculations must include regular non-guaranteed overtime. If overtime is such that an employee can consider payment for...
Employers are being advised that they need to consider what they will pay employees who take Shared Parental Leave (SPL) from next April. If employers currently offer enhanced maternity pay they will need to consider if they will continue ...to offer this to employees...
National Minimum Wage Increases come into effect on 1 October 2014. This year sees the biggest increase since 2008 with the adult rate rising by 19p which is a 3% increase. The rates will be as follows: Age 21& Over £6.50 ph Age 18-20 £5.13 ph Age Under 18 £3.79...
There's lots of information being circulated about the Shared Parental Leave Regulations at the moment. They were published in July and will apply to those who are expecting a baby on or after 5 April 2015. The Regulations actually come into force on 1 December 2014...
Holiday pay is definitely the hot topic of the moment! The European Court of Justice (ECJ) have now ruled that holiday accrued by employees who then die whilst still employed should be paid as part of the final salary settlement to their estate. In the case in...
Get ready for more employment law change! From 30 June 2014 any employee with 6 months continuous service can make a request for flexible working time to their employer. Currently only employees with children under the age of 17 (18 if the child is disabled) or carers...
Do your staff do overtime? Recent tribunal rulings suggest that in the near future it will be required for holiday pay to be calculated based on actual hours worked not just on contracted or "basic" hours. This would then most likely be calculated on average hours...
As ever at this time of year we report the increase in statutory payments that take effect on 6 April 1. Statutory Sick Pay (SPP) rises from £86.70 to £87.55 2. Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP), and Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) rises from...
Good news for small businesses and charities - under the National Insurance Contributions Act an employment allowance is being introduced from 6 April 2014. This will entitle businesses to a £2,000 reduction in employer national insurance contributions each year....
Just as we were gearing up to start changing employment policies & staff handbooks we have news that the Children & Families Bill has a new target date of 21 March for Royal Assent meaning that the intended implantation date of new flexible working regulations...
5 employment law changes that come into force tomorrow - more details can be found in this Personnel Today article http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/17/07/2013/59542/five-employment-law-changes-that-come-into-force-on-29-july-2013.htm?cmpid=NLC|PT|PTDIR-20130717...
As usual - lots of financial changes on 6 April as all statutory payments rise 1. Statutory Sick Pay (SPP) rises from £85.85 to £86.70 2. Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP), and Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) rises from £135.45 to £136.78 3....
