Welcome to April – Pay & Leave Updates!
Hey there, workers and employers alike! April 6th is a big day for your wallets and your schedules. Below is the latest scoop on statutory pay changes and family‑friendly leave policies, all laid out in a breezy, friendly style. Grab a cup of tea and let’s dive in.
Statutory Pay Tweaks
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) jumps from £87.55 to £88.45 per week.
- Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Pay nudges up from £138.18 to £139.58.
- Redundancy Pay now uses a maximum weekly figure of £475 for calculations.
Shared Parental Leave: Splitting the Love
New rules allow parents of babies born on or after April 5th, 2015 to share a part of the mother’s maternity entitlement. Here’s the nutshell:
- Each eligible parent can submit up to three notice periods for leave.
- ‘Share’ the 12 months of leave between the two of you – even on a monthly basis if you fancy it.
- Extra perks: 20 optional “in‑touch” days (SPL‑IT) plus the usual 10 KIT days for maternity.
- Keep in mind that standard maternity/adoption/paternity leave stays the same unless you opt for SPL.
- Birth mothers still need to take at least two weeks off after the little one appears.
- Fathers can grab an additional two weeks of statutory parental leave on top of any SPL.
Before you hit the “send” button, chat with the employee about how the leave will work. Re‑requests can be a time‑sink for HR. Remember, a proper SPL can’t be denied unless there are legitimate reasons, just like flexible working. No pressure to cancel, no penalties—just a smooth process.
More Rights for Surrogates & Adoptive Parents
- From April 6th, adoptees and surrogates are treated like any other employee when it comes to pay and eligibility for maternity leave.
- Unpaid parental leave extends up to the age 18 for all kids.
New Compensation Limits
- When it comes to unfair dismissal, the weekly pay cap rises to £475.
- Max compensation for such cases now tops out at £78,335.
Coming Soon: Managing Sickness Absence
The Health and Work Assessment and Advisory Service is launching soon to help employers support staff with absences longer than four weeks. Expect:
- A thorough assessment of the situation.
- A tailor‑made return‑to‑work plan showcasing how the employee can get back on track.
- Regular updates so everyone stays in the loop.
Need a hand planning your next move or figuring out these new rules? The Forum’s business advice team is ready to help. Don’t forget to give them a shout at 0845 130 1722 or swing by www.fpb.org for more details. Good luck, and let’s make April a month of fewer headaches and more smiles!