National Minimum and Living Wage Update 2025
This month, the Department for Business and Trade published a policy paper in which it sets out the areas of consideration for the Low Pay Commission (LPC), when determining recommended both National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) levels. We know that with the introduction of the Employment Rights Bill, the Government set […]
Organisations fined more than £4m for unfair working practices when setting freelancer pay
In 2013, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which is a non-ministerial department, was established with the purpose of promoting competitive markets and tackling unfair behaviour. As an authority, it also plays a significant role in helping to determine if a proposed merger or acquisition could limit consumer choice. Freelancer Pay Investigation by the CMA […]
Budgeting concerns over the Employment Rights Bill
The government’s new Employment Rights Bill has sparked lots of questions and debate for businesses across the UK. One of the biggest concerns is the pay implications it will have on businesses, particularly from a budget perspective. In our recent webinar on ‘Understanding Pay Implications of the Employment Rights Bill’, we took a deep dive […]
Forthcoming changes to the National Minimum Wage and the new National Living Wage age band
This is a reminder for businesses to budget and plan for the forthcoming change to the National Living Wage banding. Currently, the National Living Wage (NLW) applies to workers who are aged 23 and over, but from 1 April 2024 this minimum age will be lowered, so that the NLW will apply to all workers […]
What factors influence your pay?
The cost of living is rising and many people are facing financial difficulties. Tax increases and energy prices are the main culprits causing the majority of people feeling much worse off after payday. Financial struggles can cause many employees to ask for increased pay or even look for employment elsewhere, posing a real problem to […]
Real Living Wage boosted to £9.50 per hour
According to the Living Wage Foundation, over 250,000 people will see wages boosted by 20p to £9.50 if their employer has signed up to the ‘Real Living Wage‘, and employees should receive the new rate in May 2021. Not to be confused with the National Living Wage (NLW), the Real Living Wage is a recommendation of the Living Wage Foundation that ensure all workers earn a wage that covers […]
Landmark Case: Working Time Regulations
Employers may be required to record hours worked each day for each worker: Federación de Servicios de Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) v Deutsche Bank SAE This is a landmark case which found that employers must measure the actual number of hours worked each day by each worker (for the avoidance of doubt, this includes employees). It forces […]
Childcare Vouchers Scheme Closure – Employment News Update
From the 4th October 2018, Childcare Vouchers schemes are closed to new entrants. The impact on employees who are already scheme members is that existing members can continue with this salary sacrifice benefit, but cannot leave the scheme and re-enrol, and cannot enrol on a new scheme with a different company. Any employees who ask […]
Think tank recommends changes to sick pay
A new think tank report suggests statutory sick pay should increase from 28 weeks to 52 weeks. In a bid to cut the sickness benefit bill from £23 billion, the report also recommends employees be allowed to take ‘wellbeing days’ off work, at very short notice. Tackling the sickness bill The report, by the Institute […]
Firms could be forced to reveal CEO and worker pay gap
The government has announced proposals to make large UK companies reveal the pay gap between their top management and average workers. In a move intended to stem the rise in anti-big business and anti-globalisation, the government are considering a number of measures as part of a consultation to curb the excesses of corporate pay. These […]
M&S forced to defend changes to pay structure
Popular high street chain, Marks and Spencer (M&S) has been forced to defend its new pay structure after it was revealed that their employees could lose out on thousands of pounds each year. The changes to their existing policy were announced in May 2016, and a decision on their enforcement will be made 60 days […]
Are well groomed employees paid more?
We have all heard the age old theories about more attractive candidates are more likely to get jobs and promotions, but what about being well-groomed? A study conducted by Chicago and California Universities has found that employees with a smart appearance receive more frequent pay rises. The research, which followed the careers of 14,600 men […]
Unique Employee Benefits
When job hunting, what first attracts people to a company? Salary is likely to be the first thing. But job hunters are now taking more notice of what potential employers are offering besides the usual pay rates. Employers have begun to recognise this and started to put together packages, offering their staff increasingly imaginative employee […]
UK Unemployment Hits Decade Low
UK unemployment held at 5.1% over the three months from November to January, the lowest rate since 2006. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that weekly earnings grew at a faster pace than expected. Meanwhile job creation slowed over the same period. The number of unemployed fell by 28,000 from the last quarter to […]
Commission Must Be Included in Holiday Pay
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has confirmed that an employee’s average commission must be included in their holiday pay. The judgement, published Monday (22nd February), set out how the European Court of Justice (ECJ)’s ruling will apply in the UK. This is another step in the long-running case of Lock v British Gas, which was […]
CIPD Warns of Lower Pay Rises
The introduction of the compulsory National Living Wage will cause UK salaries to rise at a far slower rate than forecast, according to the CIPD. However, the HR body believes that low inflation will help to ease the blow for average earners. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) and the Bank of England originally predicted […]
New Penalties for the National Minimum Wage
The Government has published new legislation regarding the forthcoming amendments to the National Minimum Wage. There will be tougher penalties in place for employers who fail to pay the National Minimum Wage. These include doubling the penalty for non-payment and disqualifying guilty employers from holding a directorship for up to 15 years. The legislation will […]
Majority of Employees to Work at Christmas
More than half of UK employees (63%) will be at work at Christmas Eve according to a study by fashion brand Cotton Traders. Over 30% will work on Christmas Day itself. Almost half of those surveyed said that they will do so to earn extra income, with 41% expecting to receive double pay for working at […]
UK Pay Increase Predicted for 2016
UK workers look set to receive an average pay increase of 2.3% in 2016. This will be the largest ‘real-terms’ salary rise since 2008. This forecast follows research by Korn Ferry Hay Group. Whilst the rate of pay increase looks set to be at the same as this year (2.5%), the level of inflation is […]
Statutory Maternity and Sick Pay Rates Frozen for 2016
Following on from the Autumn Budget, the Government has announced that there will be no increase to a variety of statutory pay rates in 2016. The affected statutory rates include maternity and paternity pay, shared parental pay, adoption pay and sick pay. A complete list of the Government’s statutory pay rates for 2016 can be […]