UK businesses face the biggest shake-up to employment in years from next month.

While changes to employment law and National Insurance are nothing new, the Government’s reforms represent a fundamental shift in how businesses are being asked to approach everything from payroll to probationary periods. For SME owners and managers, these changes demand not just compliance, but a strategic rethink of how they manage their workforce.

Here are some of the key changes coming into force in April

• The national minimum wage will increase from 11.44 to 12.21 per hour for workers aged 21 and above.

• The minimum wage for workers aged 18-20 will increase to 10 per hour

• Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) will increase from 13.8% to 15% and the threshold at which they are payable will decrease from 9,100 to 5,000.

• Statutory sick pay will increase from 116.75 to 118.75 per week.

• Statutory maternity pay will increase from 184.03 to 187.18 per week.

• Statutory paternity pay, adoption pay, shared parental pay, and parental bereavement pay will also increase to 187.18 per week.

• The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Rates Relief Scheme will provide eligible, occupied, retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a 40% relief, up to a cash cap limit of 110,000 per business. The previous relief rate was 75%, with the same cash cap.

For most businesses, it will be the National Insurance changes that have the biggest impact. Calculations using our payroll and...

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirwFBVV95cUxORFAtdEVGMkRzbnJ2UUd6X1R1...