A brief run through of the April 2022 employment law changes.

National Minimum Wage

The national living wage is to increase from 8.91 to 9.50 per hour (for those aged 23 and over). New rates for the national minimum wage are as follows:-

• NMW 21 to 22 year old rate will increase from 8.36 to 9.18 per hour
• NMW 18 to 20 year old rate will increase from 6.56 to 6.83 per hour
• NMW 16 & 17 year old rate will increase from 4.62 to 4.81 per hour
• NMW apprentices will increase from 4.30 to 4.81 per hour

Statutory Benefits

Statutory sick pay is expected to increase from 96.35 to 99.35 per week. Statutory maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption pay increases from 151.97 to 156.66 per week. These increases usually occur on the first Sunday of April.

Social Care Levy

From April, there will be a temporary 1.25% increase in Class 1 primary National Insurance contributions (NIC) rates for employees and Class 1 secondary NIC rates for employers. From April 2023 the increase will be treated separately as a Health and Social Care levy and will also apply to those working above the state pension age. The money raised will be ring-fenced for health and social care.

Tribunal Compensation

The annual Employment Tribunal award limit changes will apply to dismissals occurring on or after 6 April 2022. The limit on compensatory award for unfair dismissal will rise from 89,493 to 93,878.

The cap on the compensatory award is the lower of the compensatory award limit or 52 weeks' pay...

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