Are you hoping to grow your team in 2015?

Are you aware that the government has announced a number of changes to employment law, which might affect your dental practice?

The landscape for employment law, and how it affects your business or workplace is always evolving. Take a look at these key launch dates below, which will help you to quickly easily stay up to date with the changes taking place that might affect your dental practice.

Shared Parental Leave – 1^st December 2014

The basics

OK, so this one is already launched however it’s worth knowing that parents of children born or matched for adoption on or after 5^th April 2015, parents will have the chance to choose how they share the care of their child during the first year.

The finer details

Mums will take at least the two weeks off following the birth, but under the new rules they can choose to end the maternity leave there, and the parents can opt to share the remaining time off.

Also under this new law, the husband, civil partner or partner of the pregnant women has the right to unpaid time off to attend up to 2 antenatal appointments.

 

Managing sickness absence – April 2015

The basics

It’s worth knowing that a free occupational health assessment service will be launched in April 2015 for employees, employers and GPs.

The finer details

The service will be available to employees after four weeks of sickness absence.

Further information is available from GOV.UK – Government response to the review of the sickness absence system in Great Britain.

 

New statutory pay rates – 5th April 2015

The basics

Statutory pay for both sickness and maternity / paternity / adoption / shared parental leave is increasing from 5^th April 2015.

The finer details

Statutory sick pay (SSP) rate will increase to £88.45 per week. Statutory pay for maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave will increase to £139.58 per week.

 

Additional changes for parents:

• Statutory adoption leave and pay – 5th April 2015. The 26-week qualifying period will go. Adoption pay will match maternity pay (90% of normal earnings for first six weeks).
• Unpaid parental leave – 5th April 2015. On 5th April this right will extend to parents of any child below 18.
• Surrogate parents eligible for adoption leave – April 2015. Surrogate parents will have the same leave and pay rights as ordinary parents. These include unpaid time off for two antenatal appointments.

Young people:

• National Insurance payments for under 21s abolished. Employers will no longer need to pay NI for employees who are aged under 21. The employee will still pay NI contributions.
• Young people – launch date to be confirmed. In England all must remain in education/training until aged 18.

Other dates yet to be confirmed

• Jury service – launch date to be confirmed. The upper age limit will increase from 70 to 75 in England and Wales ( be aware that there is no age limit in Scotland).
• Reservists’ exemption – launch date to be confirmed. Reservist employees will be exempt from the two-year qualifying period for bringing an unfair dismissal claim, if it’s related to their service.

Remember, Dentrecruit has decades of experience supporting businesses and we can help you in ways you didn’t even know you needed help in! Get in touch and let us remove one of those headaches.