As has become customary for 1 October each year, a number of employment law changes take effect today. In summary these are:
Change to the National Minimum Wage:
The national minimum wage rates increase from today:
- The standard adult rate will increase to £6.50;
- The rate for workers between 18 and 20 will increase to £5.13;
- The rate for workers between 16 and 17 will increase to £3.79; and
- The rate for apprentices under 19 will increase to £2.73.
Power to order Equal Pay Audits:
Tribunals are now compelled (save for in certain circumstances) to order employers who have been found to be in breach of equal pay law to carry out equal pay audits.
Right to time off to accompany partner to ante-natal appointments:
Employees and agency workers now have the right to take unpaid time off to accompany a pregnant woman with whom they have a ‘qualifying relationship’ to up to two antenatal appointments (up to six and a half hours maximum for each appointment). A qualifying relationship includes the pregnant woman’s husband or civil partner, a person who lives with the pregnant woman in an enduring family relationship, the expected child’s father, and certain other relationships. We have updated the Maternity and Paternity Policy on the Employmentor website to take account of this new right.
If you need any assistance in ensuring that you are compliant with the above, please contact a member of Employmentor team.
