Jai Popat
Oct 11, 20202 min
Employment law
it is always important for every business owner and recruiter to understand and keep up to date with Employment Law. Especially if you do not have an internal HR department or you are hiring employees for a small business. The more you know, the better you can service.
Here are a few most significant changes to the legislation from April 2020;
Parental bereavement leave and pay
The Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay Act 2018 gives all employed parents the right to 2 weeks' paid leave if their child aged under 18 dies, or if they have a stillbirth at 24 weeks or later.
Written terms (‘written statement of employment particulars’)
Workers now have the same right as employees to written terms (a ‘written statement of employment particulars’) from their employer.
Employers must provide their workers and employees with their written statement on or before their first day of employment, no matter how long they're employed for.
The written statement must include details about:
the hours and days of the week the worker or employee is required to work, and whether they may be varied and how
entitlements to any paid leave
any other benefits not covered elsewhere in the written statement
any probationary period
any training provided by the employer
Agency workers' rights
The Swedish Derogation (referred to as 'pay between assignments' contracts) is abolished from 6 April 2020, so all agency workers are entitled to the same rate of pay as their permanent counterparts after 12 weeks.
All agency workers are entitled to a key information document that clearly sets out the type of contract they will have and the pay they'll receive.
Changes to holiday pay calculations
From 6 April 2020, the period used to calculate a week's pay for holiday pay purposes increases from the previous 12 weeks of work to the previous 52 weeks.
Update your organisation’s statutory redundancy pay calculations
New limits on employment statutory redundancy pay come into force on 6 April 2020.
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. This amount is £538 from 6 April 2020.
Increase statutory family-related pay and statutory sick pay
The weekly rate of statutory maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental pay increases to £151.20 from 5 April 2020.
The weekly rate of statutory sick pay increases to £95.85 from 6 April 2020.
Covid-19 related updates
SSP amendment for coronavirus self-isolations
Carry over Holidays
Job support scheme/Job retention scheme
Kick start program
Coronavirus act 2020
Tribunal Procedure
For further information, you can visit the ACAS or CIPD websites
https://www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/fundamentals/emp-law/about/legislation-updates
https://www.acas.org.uk/employment-law-changes-from-6-april-2020