HMRC has announced new advisory fuel rates, from 1 March 2024, for employees using a company car.
HR Hub
The limit on a ‘week’s pay’ and the various maximum employment tribunal awards will increase from 6 April 2024.
Various research bodies have published pay data for the three months to the end of January 2024, as well as looking forward over the next year.
A revised code of practice covering dismissal and re-engagement (commonly known as fire and rehire) has been published which will come into force in the summer of 2024.
The UK’s inflation rate in January 2024, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 4.0%.
The government wants to reintroduce fees for employment tribunal claims and appeals to the EAT.
Fines under the right-to-work civil penalty scheme are to be tripled, from February 2024, for employers who breach the rules.
Various research bodies have published pay data for the three months to the end of 2023, as well as a look ahead to what’s in store for 2024.
Some relatively minor changes will be made to the statutory paternity leave scheme.
The UK’s inflation rate in December 2023, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 4.0%.
Various research bodies have published pay data for the three months to the end of November 2023.
The UK’s inflation rate in November 2023, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 3.9%.
Expectant employees will, from April 2024, receive greater protection from redundancy during pregnancy and new parents will have extended protections when they return from maternity, adoption and shared parental leave.
Employees who care for a dependant with a long-term care need will be entitled, from 6 April 2024, to one week of flexible unpaid leave per year.
From 6 April 2024, the right to make a flexible working application applies from the first day of an employee’s employment.
The weekly rates that will apply from 8 April 2024 to statutory maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption and bereavement pay, as well as statutory sick pay are as follows:
Various research bodies have published pay data for the three months to the end of October 2023.
The National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage rates will increase from 1 April 2024 as follows:
A fresh consultation on allowing agency workers to cover employees who are on strike has been launched.
The UK’s inflation rate in October 2023, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 4.6%.
Regulations will reproduce in domestic law specific discrimination protections derived from EU law that would otherwise have fallen away at the end of 2023.
The government has responded with its final plans on various aspects of retained EU law, covering TUPE, the Working Time Regulations and holidays and holiday pay.
The period of time that those with criminal convictions are required to declare them to employers has been reduced.
A new duty on employers to take steps to prevent sexual harassment of their employees will come into force in 2024.
Various research bodies have published pay data for the three months to the end of September 2023.
The UK’s inflation rate in September 2023, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was unchanged at 6.7%.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published new workplace monitoring guidance.
Various research bodies have published pay data for the three months to the end of August 2023.
The UK’s inflation rate in August 2023, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 6.7%.
Workers are to be given the legal right to request a predictable working pattern, but not until 2024.
ACAS has updated its coronavirus guidance for employers and employees.
Various research bodies have published pay data for the three months to the end of July 2023.
The UK’s inflation rate in July 2023, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 6.8%.
Various research bodies have published pay data for the three months to the end of June 2023.
Significant changes to the process of flexible working requests are to be introduced.
Legislation allowing employers to replace striking staff with temporary workers is unlawful and has been quashed.
The UK’s inflation rate in June 2023, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 7.9%.
An updated guide to handling subject access requests has been included in our Knowledge section.
Various research bodies have published pay data for the three months to the end of May 2023.
The UK’s inflation rate in May 2023, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 8.7%.
Eligible employed parents whose new-born baby is admitted to neonatal care will be able to take 12 weeks paid leave, in addition to their other leave entitlements such as maternity and paternity leave.
New guidance for employers on responding to subject access requests (SARs) has been published by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Various research bodies have published pay data for the three months to the end of April 2023, traditionally the busiest time of year for pay reviews.
The UK’s inflation rate in April 2023, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 8.7%.
Changes to some aspects of employment law have been outlined in a policy paper, including to TUPE, holiday pay and non-compete clauses.
Holding back tips and service charges from workers will be made illegal, but not until 2024.
Three pay research bodies have published pay data for the three months to the end of March 2023.
The UK’s inflation rate in March 2023, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 10.1%.
A guide to measuring, reporting on and addressing any ethnicity pay gaps has been published.
Three pay research bodies have published pay data for the three months to the end of February 2023.
The effectiveness of the current law on whistleblowing is being reviewed.
The bands of awards for injury to feelings in discrimination cases, known as the Vento bands, have been updated in respect of claims after 6 April 2023
The UK’s inflation rate in February 2023, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 10.4%.
The limit on a ‘week’s pay’ and the various maximum employment tribunal awards will increase from 6 April 2023.
Various pay research bodies have published pay data for the three months to the end of January 2023, as well as forecasts for 2023 more generally.
The UK’s inflation rate in January 2023, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 10.1%.
Three pay research bodies have published pay data for the three months to the end of December 2022.
The UK’s inflation rate in December 2022, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 10.5%.
Proposals to pro-rata holiday entitlement for part-year and irregular hours workers (based on the annual hours they work) have been published.
Three research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of November 2022.
The UK’s inflation rate in November 2022, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 10.7%.
Changes to the existing right to request flexible working arrangements will be taken forward via a Private Members’ Bill.
The weekly rates that will apply from 10 April 2023 to statutory maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption and bereavement pay, as well as statutory sick pay are as follows:
Various pay research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of October 2022, as well as predictions for the future.
The National Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage rates will increase from 1 April 2023 as follows:
The UK’s inflation rate in October 2022, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 11.1%.
Three pay research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of September 2022.
Draft guidance on monitoring at work has been published.
The UK’s inflation rate in September 2022, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 10.1%.
There will no changes to the IR35 rules.
The COVID-related temporary concessions allowing employers greater flexibility when conducting right-to-work (RTW) checks ended on 30 September and, from 1 October 2022, such checks must be carried out in one of three prescribed ways.
On 22 September 2022, the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill was introduced to the House of Commons and, if passed could give rise to a significant shake up of employment rights.
Two research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of August 2022.
The Real Living Wage (RLW) has increased by the biggest percentage in its 10-year history.
The UK’s inflation rate in August 2022, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 9.9%.
Various research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of July 2022.
The UK’s inflation rate in July 2022, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 10.1%.
Significant reforms to the UK’s data protection regime will be introduced by the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill.
Three research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of June 2022.
Rather than legislate to reform the current system of employment status, the government has instead produced new guides.
The UK’s inflation rate in June 2022, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 9.4%.
Various research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of May 2022.
The UK’s inflation rate in May 2022, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 9.1%.
From 1 July 2022 a wider range of healthcare professionals will be able to certify fit notes.
Various research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of April 2022.
The UK’s inflation rate in April 2022, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was 9.0%.
Following the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions, the Information Commissioner (ICO) has reminded employers of their data protection obligations as regards the use of personal information.
Various research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of March and April 2022.
The UK’s inflation rate in March 2022, as measured by the CPI, was 7.0%.
Various research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of February 2022.
A brief reminder of the employment law and HR-related changes taking effect in April 2022.
The plight of the P&O employees publicly dismissed in a pre-recorded statement, with an army of allegedly lower paid agency workers waiting to take over from them, standing shoulder to shoulder with security guards employed to ensure a changing of the guard, has drawn condemnation from all sides of government. Beverley Sunderland, Managing Director at Crossland Employment Solicitors, offers some thoughts.
The UK’s inflation rate in February 2022, as measured by the CPI, was 6.2%.
Legislation requiring the mandatory reporting of ethnicity pay gaps will not be introduced.
A guide to checks employers should carry out on an individual’s right to work has been published.
Two updated codes of practice concerning the prevention of illegal working have been published.
With almost all COVID-19 restrictions lifted or about to be lifted, we look at how employers should approach the return to the office.
The limit on a ‘week’s pay’ and the various maximum employment tribunal awards will increase from 6 April 2022.
The Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme closes for COVID-19-related absences after 17 March 2022.
Various research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of January 2022.
The Home Office has published updated guidance for employers carrying out ‘adjusted’ COVID-19 right-to-work checks.
The UK’s inflation rate in January 2022, as measured by the CPI, was 5.5%.
Various research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of December 2021, as well as forecasts for early 2022.
From 6 April 2022 holders of biometric cards will only be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK by using the Home Office online service. Employers will also be able to use certified technology to carry out digital identity checks on new employees.
The UK’s inflation rate in December 2021, as measured by the CPI, was 5.4%.
From 6 April 2022, employers will have to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to workers, as well as employees, who may be exposed to health and safety risks at work.
Various research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of November 2021.
In response to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant and its resulting effect on business, the SSP rebate scheme has been reactivated as of 21 December 2021.
Employees can now self-certify for SSP purposes for 28 calendar days rather than seven days.
A consultation on requiring large employers to report on workplace disability issues has been published.
The UK’s inflation rate in November 2021, as measured by the CPI, was 5.1%.
A recent discussion in the Court of Appeal seems to have opened up the possibility of an implied duty to act fairly in disciplinary processes, separate from the obligations under the implied term of trust and confidence.
The weekly rates that will apply from 11 April 2022 to statutory maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption and bereavement pay, as well as statutory sick pay are as follows:
Migrate UK has flagged up an important update for those with pre-settled and settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
Various research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of October 2021.
The UK’s inflation rate in October 2021, as measured by the CPI, was 4.2%.
The rates of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) will be increased from 1 April 2022 as follows:
Various research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of September 2021.
The UK’s inflation rate in September 2021, as measured by the CPI, was 3.1%.
Various research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of August 2021.
A consultation on amending the right to request flexible working has been published.
The Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) rebate scheme will end on 30 September 2021.
People previously considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable will no longer be advised to follow shielding guidance.
The UK’s inflation rate in August 2021, as measured by the CPI, was 3.2%.
On 5 April 2022 the COVID-19 right-to-work concession allowing employers to carry out right-to-work checks by video call, mobile app or email will end.
Various research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of July 2021.
The UK’s main inflation measure in July 2021 was 2.0%.
Introducing disability reporting for larger employers and making flexible working the default position will form the basis of consultations later in 2021.
Reforms to SSP have been ruled out and there will be no new right to request workplace modifications.
Employers are to be liable if they fail to prevent sexual harassment at work.
Various research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of June 2021.
What are the implications for employers of the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions on 'Freedom Day'?
The UK’s main inflation measure in June 2021 was 2.5%.
The EU Commission has adopted 'adequacy decisions' which enable the continued free flow of personal data from the EU into the UK.
Various research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of May 2021 which appear to confirm an uptick in settlement levels.
The UK’s main inflation measure in May 2021 was 2.1%.
A new workers’ watchdog – a single enforcement body for employment rights – is to be set up the government has confirmed.
From 31 May 2021, ‘workers’ as well as employees will gain the right not to be subjected to a detriment in health and safety cases.
Various research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of April 2021 which seem to show an uptick in settlement levels.
The UK’s main inflation measure in April 2021 was 1.5%.
The Court of Appeal has refused Addison Lee permission to appeal from the EAT decision that its drivers are ‘workers’.
Various research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of March 2021.
The UK’s main inflation measure in March 2021 was 0.7%.
Various research organisations have published pay data for the three months to the end of February 2021.
The UK’s main inflation measure in February 2021 was 0.4%.
The period for which employers, liable to pay the National Minimum Wage (NMW), must retain records has been doubled.
Public Health England has updated its shielding advice for the nearly four million people who’ve been categorised as extremely clinically vulnerable.
We look at some of the data protection issues around testing employees at work for COVID-19.
A central registry for modern slavery statements has been launched.
A brief reminder of the changes happening in April 2021 as they affect HR.
The inevitable headline of the March 2021 Budget is the extension of the furlough scheme but there are other matters of note for HR.