With increases in National Minimum Wage rates, employment tribunal awards, statutory pay, reporting deadlines, changes to guidance and more, April is an important month in the employment law calendar. We have set out below some key dates and changes to be aware of this month.
National Minimum Wage
The annual increases in the National Minimum Wage hourly rates (including the National Living Wage) that apply from 1 April 2022 are as follows:
23+ from 8.91 to 9.50
21-22 from 8.36 to 9.18
18-20 from 6.56 to 6.83
16-17 from 4.62 to 4.81
The minimum hourly rate for apprentices rises from 4.30 to 4.81 and applies to apprentices under 19 or in the first year of their apprenticeship.
Statutory Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared Parental and Parental Bereavement Pay
Statutory maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and parental bereavement pay increased from 151.97 to 156.66 per week on 3 April 2022.
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
SSP increased from 96.35 to 99.35 per week on 6 April 2022.
The remaining pandemic-related arrangements for SSP ended on 24 March 2022 and the normal conditions of entitlement to SSP now apply regardless of whether COVID is a factor. This means, for example, that SSP will only be payable where the worker is sick or incapable of work and from the fourth day of absence (rather than from the first day, under the pandemic rules).
Workforce reporting requirements
Despite changes to the gender pay gap reporting deadlines during the pandemic,...
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