EMPLOYMENT LAW FOR 2017 – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

HR SQ 600To make sure that you are staying on the right side of employment law, have a look at our useful summary of the planned changes that you need to be aware of in 2017.

Employment status of workers
Hearing 17th January 2017

Pimlico Plumbers v Smith.  Court of Appeal will hear another case in the continually developing area of the employment status of supposedly self-employed workers.

Employment Tribunal Fees
Hearing due late March 2017

In 2016, The Court of Appeal dismissed Unison’s challenge to the introduction of these fees.
In early February 2017, the government published its long awaited review on ET fees. It concluded in favour of continuing the fee system whilst promising to address “areas of concern” primarily by extending the fee remission scheme and announcing an immediate exemption from fees for claims for redundancy payments where an employer is redundant.

National Living Wage rise for all working people aged 25 +
1 April 2017

National Minimum Wage rate rises, and associated rises for the other age bands.

The Apprenticeship Levy
April 2017

From April 2017 all UK employers in the private and public sectors that have annual wage bills of more than £3million will have to pay an apprenticeship levy. All companies can apply for help with Apprentices’ college fees and Grants are available to companies of less than 50 employees.

Changes to Statutory Payments
April 2017 Expected – 2nd April- date still to be confirmed

For the first time since 2015, these Government set payments are increasing in April 2017.  Changes to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) & Maternity Allowance, statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) and Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP).


USE 2017 TO GET READY FOR 2018

Shared Parental Leave extends to Grandparents
The government has plans to extend shared parental leave and pay to working grandparents by 2018

Data Protection New regime coming in 2018
The EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) which harmonises data protection rules across the EU including the UK will affect employers storage and use of employees personal information.