Business owners and HR personnel need to be aware of the imminent changes on or shortly after 1st April 2024, due to new employment legislation coming into force.

Key changes affecting employers are summarised below:

  1. National minimum wage increases – 1st April 2024

  • From 1st April 2024, workers aged 21 and over will be entitled to the National Living Wage.

  • The National Living Wage for workers aged 21 will increase to £11.44 per hour.

  • Please see our Farleys Blog for more details……..attach link

  1. Statutory redundancy pay increases – 6th April 2024

  • New limits on employment statutory redundancy pay come into force on 6 April 2024.

  • Employers that dismiss employees for redundancy must pay those with two years’ service an amount based on the employee’s weekly pay, length of service, and age.

  • The weekly pay is subject to a maximum amount. From 6 April 2024, this will be £700.00, which will be an increase from the current rate of £643.00.

  • Employers should ensure that calculations for statutory redundancy payments are made on this basis for redundancy dismissals on or after 6th April 2024.

  1. Statutory family-related pay and sick pay rates increases – on or after 6th April 2024 & 7th April 2024

  • The weekly level of statutory maternity, adoption, paternity, and shared parental pay is increased to £184.03 for pay weeks commencing on or after 7th April 2024. This being an increase from £148.68.

  • Statutory sick pay rises to £109.40 per week on 6 April 2024. This being an increase from £99.35.

  • Employers need to make sure employees are paid the correct entitlements and review their policies that mention the rates, such as maternity policies and sickness absence procedures.

  1. Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act 2023

  • Under the current law, employees on maternity leave, shared parental leave, or adoption leave already have special protection in a redundancy situation. From 6 April 2024, this legislation extends that priority status to pregnant employees and those who have recently returned from maternity or adoption leave and shared parental leave.

Farleys Solicitors specialise in a commercial employment law & HR for businesses. Advice and support includes contracts of employment, staff handbooks, directors service agreements, apprentices, equal pay, recruitment, restructures, disciplinaries, grievances, employee exits, settlement agreements; and Employment Tribunal defence and representation.

If you require any assistance with any of the above, please contact Farleys’ employment law & HR team on 0845 287 0939 or complete our online contact form and a member of the team will get in touch with you.