Employment Law Legislation Changes 2014

Published
09 Oct
2014

As we know, October each year brings with it, a selection of revisited, updated or new legislation relating to employers and their employees.

Changes that came into effect as of 1st October 14 are:


National Minimum Wage Increases

Adults:                  Rose from £6.31 to £6.50 per hour

18-20:    Rose from £5.03 to £5.13 per hour

Under 18s:          Rose from £3.72 to £3.79 per hour

Apprentices:      Rose from £2.68 to £2.73 per hour           

London Living Wage:      Remains £8.80 per hour

** The apprentice wage is for year one only, year two is paid according to age. 


Right to time off for antenatal classes

Under the new shared parental leave, a husband, civil partner or partner will be entitled to time off to accompany a pregnant woman to an antenatal appointment on up to two occasions. Employees will be eligible to take advantage of this new right immediately, without a qualifying period of service. Although this right covers agency workers, a minimum service requirement applies for them (12 weeks).

** For full information on this right, read the government Guide for Employers.


Shared Parental Leave

For parents of children born or matched for adoption on or after 5 April 2015

Under this new system parents are able to choose how they share the care of their child during the first year after birth. Mothers will still take at least the initial statutory two weeks following the birth of their child, after that, they can choose to end the maternity leave and both parents can opt to share the remaining leave as flexible parental leave.