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Some Changes in 2009:
Statutory sick pay increases:
6 April 2009 - Statutory sick pay
increases from £75.40 to £79.15.
Statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay increases:
5 April 2009 - The standard rate
of statutory maternity pay, statutory paternity pay and statutory
adoption pay increases from £117.18 to £123.06. Information on the
new rates can be viewed on the HM Revenue and Customs website.
Unfair dismissal:
The
maximum compensation has increased to £66,200 from the 1st February 2009.
Statutory annual leave
entitlement was:
Increased to
28 days including public holidays from the 1st April 2009.
Revised ACAS Code of
Practice for disciplinary
and grievance procedures was introduced on the 6th April 2009:
The revised statutory Acas Code of Practice
on disciplinary and grievance procedures is introduced. Where
there is a breach of the Code of Practice, a tribunal can increase
or decrease any award made by up to 25%. The
Code
can be viewed on the Acas website and the
Order bringing the Code into force can
be viewed on the OPSI website.
Flexible working:
The
Government has introduced the right for parents to ask to work flexibly if
they have children aged up to 16 from the 1st April 2009.
Right to be accompanied in
Disciplinary and Grievance meetings:
The new ACAS code which came into
force on the 6th April incorporated the existing statutory right to be
accompanied by a trade union official, even if you don't recognise trade unions
or a work colleague. The right extends to workers as well as employees.
NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE:
The
Minimum Wage Rates
Increased
penalties for failure to pay national minimum wage introduced
6 April 2009
An employee cannot agree
orally or in writing with his / her employer to be paid less
than the minimum wage, this will still be an offence committed
by the Employer..
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1. |
Standard minimum wage of £5.80 per hour
for workers aged 22 or over.
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2. |
Minimum wage level of £4.83 per hour for
workers aged 18-21 inclusive. This is
known as the "development rate".
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3. |
Rate for 16 and 17 year olds
Minimum wage level of £3.57 per hour for
workers aged 16-17. |
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4. |
Fair Piece Rates
From 1st October 2004 employers have had
to pay employees on piece rate work the
same as the national minimum wage. From
April 2005 this rate was increased to
120% of the national minimum wage. (This
means that most piece workers will
instead be paid the national minimum
wage hourly wage.) |
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Other Tips:
Employers have responsibilities for the health and safety of
their employees. They are also responsible for any visitors to their premises
such as customers, suppliers and the general public.
By
law you are required to
give an employee a statement of
employment, within two months of them starting work.
The Employment Rights Act 1996 requires employers to provide their
employees with a written statement of their terms and conditions
of employment within 8 weeks of commencing work with their
organisation and this usually takes the form of a written
employment contract.
During 2009 or 2010
Maternity leave will be extended
to 12 months.
Discrimination -
Employees are protected by law against unfair discrimination on
several grounds, including race, religion, disability, gender
(sex, sexual orientation & equal pay) and age.
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