After our weather forecast of snow did not come to fruition, we will stick to Employment Law. Here are a few things that will be happening in 2017.

Trade Union Bill 

Trade Union Bill

 

Whilst no implementation date has been set, the Bill will introduce a number of proposed changes to current strike action:

– 50% turnout threshold for there to be a valid ballot on industrial ballot.

– Threshold of 40% support from all eligible members entitled to vote in order to take industrial action in key sectors.

– 4 month time limit for which the ballot will remain valid to authorise industrial action.

Apprenticeship Levy

Apprenticeship Levy

 

The first of several changes in the annual employment law update. The Apprenticeship Levy will come into force on 6th April 2017. Most of what you need to know can be found in our September 16 update.

In short, the levy will mean any business whose payroll exceeds three million pounds a year will have to put 0.5% of their wage bill into the levy via PAYE.

National Minimum Wage Rates

Employment Law Forecast

 

Another thing that will change in April 2017 is the NMW Rates. These were published this week and can be confirmed as follows:

National Living Wage (Over 25s): £7.50

21 – 24 year olds: £7.05

18 – 20 year olds: £5.60

Under 18 years old: £4.05

Apprentices: £3.50

Tax Free Childcare Scheme

Tax free childcare

Regular attendees of our seminar may remember this has been mooted for some time. Whilst there is no formal implementation date, at some point this year the tax free childcare scheme will be introduced.

For families where both parents work and each earns less that £150,000 per year will be eligible to receive 20% of their yearly childcare costs of up to £2,000 for each child or £4,000 if the child is disabled. This will replace the voucher scheme and also follows the cutting back of salary sacrifice schemes – albeit less so for childcare ones.

Gender Pay Gap Reporting

Gender Pay Gap

 

We’ve already mentioned a post from last year that set out the time frame for gender pay gap reporting and this should be adhered to throughout the course of 2017. ACAS Guidance on this can also be found here.