Key Dates for Changes in Employment Law
Looking ahead into the employment legislation there are a number of changes that are due to come into force in the first half of this year.
From the 1 January 2024
- The employment rights (Amendment, Revocation and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2023 will amend the Working Time Regulations. In particular to the paid holidays for irregular hours worker and part-year workers from 1 April 2024.
- The Equality Act 2010 (Amendment) Regulation 2023 will have various changes to reproduce certain interpretive effects of retained EU LAW which would otherwise ceased to apply to the UK after the end of 2023. This includes amending the definition of disability to take into account a person’s ability to participate in working life on an equal basis with others, providing an express right to claim indirect discrimination by association and preserving the single source test for equal pay comparisons.
- As of the 22nd January, the maximum civil penalty for the illegal employment of an adult subject to immigration control has tripled from £20,000 to £60,000 under the Immigration (Employment of Adults Subject to Immigration Control) (Maximum Penalty) (Amendment) Order 2023.
Changes to come:
6 April 2024
- The right to request flexible working will become a day one right under the Flexible Working (Amendment) Regulations 2023.
- The rate for Statutory Sick Pay will increase to £116.75 per week under the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2024.
Additional Changes in April 2024:
- The Maternity Leave, Adoption Leave, and Shared Parental Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2024 will extend existing protections to employees on maternity, adoption, or shared parental leave when facing redundancy. These protections also apply during pregnancy and for a period after the relevant leave has ended.
- The Carer’s Leave Regulations 2023 will permit employees to take up to one week of unpaid leave per year to provide or arrange care for a dependent with a long-term care need.
Under the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2024 the rate of Statutory Maternity Pay (and other family-related statutory payments) will increase to £184.03 per week.
If as an Employee or Employer you require any advice or guidance on the effect of these changes on you or your business, please get in touch.
0161 7644602
Mohammed Balal