This article appears as part of a paid partnership with Bendles
Bendles Solicitors are reminding all Cumbrian businesses that there were a number of recent changes to employment laws in England, starting from the 1st April 2021 onwards.
The changes include a rise in the national minimum wage.
The new hourly rates are as follows:
- Workers aged 23 and over (National Living Wage) – £8.91
- Workers aged 21-22 – £8.36
- Development rates for workers aged 18–20 – £6.56
- Young workers rate for workers aged 16–17 – £4.62
- Apprentices under 19, or over 19 and in first year of the apprenticeship – £4.30
In addition to this the weekly rates of statutory family leave, which includes maternity and paternity leave, will increase by 77p per week on 4th April 2021, rising from £151.20 per week to £151.97 per week.
Statutory sick pay, as well as employment tribunal compensation rates, will also increase from the 6th April 2021.
Further details of the April changes can be found here.
Employment law is an area of business that you can ill-afford to let slip but keeping up to date with the seemingly never-ending changes to the law can be tricky and time consuming, especially if your business isn’t large enough to employ in-house HR personnel.
Stuart Irving, employment law specialist at Bendles Solicitors, said: “We meet a lot of local businesses who for one reason or another have left themselves exposed to tribunal claims or even prosecution for failing to comply with the current laws.
“This can be hugely damaging for a business’s reputation and finances but it’s also an unnecessary risk when help is readily available.
“The never-ending stream of employment law changes caused by COVID-19 has left even the most experienced HR managers and business owners baffled at points over the last year so it’s important to seek expert advice.”
Whether you need help with just one aspect of employment law, something more in depth, Bendles’ team of employment specialists can help with the following and more:
- Employment Law compliance & training
- Contracts and staff handbooks
- Policies – disciplinary, grievance, GDPR, social media
- Redundancy advice
- Restructuring advice
- Employment Tribunal Representation or Support, including advocacy
If you need Employment Law or HR advice contact Bendles Solicitors by email: [email protected] or call the Carlisle office on tel: 01228 522215 or the Wigton office on tel: 016973 42121.
