Overview of Employment Changes in April

Each year throughout April, the new year’s rules and regulations regarding employees are updated and released. This includes changes in employee rights, minimum wages, payslip information, statutory pay and more.

In this blog, we’ll look at the most significant changes that could affect you as an employer or employee this year.

What’s the minimum wage in the UK?

Previously to the update on April 1st 2019, the minimum wage for apprentices was £3.70, 16-17 year olds was £4.20 to £4.35, 18-20 year olds received £5.90 and workers aged 25 years and over could expect a minimum of £7.83.

Now, post 1st April 2019, the minimum wage has increased 20p to £3.90 per hour, 16-17 year olds have seen an increase in 15p to £4.35 hourly, with an increase of 25p, 18-20 year olds can expect a minimum of £6.15 per hour; the 21-24 age bracket has seen an increase of 32p to £7.70 and finally, the living wage for those aged 25 and over has increased 38p to £8.21 per hour.

Changes in payslips

On the 6th of April, two changes were made to the Employment Rights Act 1996. These change the way payslips are displayed and provided.

  • Payslips must now be provided to both employees and ‘workers.’ This means those not on contract, in temporary work or a freelancer, must now receive a payslip the same as their employee counterparts.
  • Payslips must now display itemised pay and hours where the pay changes dependant on the hours, for example, overtime and zero hour contracts.

Statutory pay rates

On the 6 & 7th of April, statutory sick, maternity and paternity rates all increased.

  • Statutory sick pay (SSP) rose £2.20 from £92.05 to £94.25.
  • Statutory maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental pay (SMP, SPP, SAP and ShPP retrospectively) has risen £3.50 from £145.18 to £148.68.

Find your new job with help from Prestige Recruitment

At Prestige, we’re 100% committed to supporting our candidates. offering an ethical, professional recruitment service from the moment they step through our door.

As a candidate, whatever your job requirements, we’ll do everything in our power to find you the right role in an organisation that values you as a person and rewards you for your efforts. Currently, we have a huge range of opportunities across a range of industries, including part time, full time, temporary, permanent, contract and interim positions - search all of our current jobs.

Additional information about the way we work, our industry accreditations, awards and association memberships can be found at https://www.prestige-recruitment.com/about-us.

Alternatively, for more about how we can help you find your next job, please contact your local Prestige Recruitment office in Hull, Norwich, Leeds or Huddersfield.



Posted: Wed 17 Apr 2019
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