Employment Law Updates - October 2009
There are a number of changes to employment law, which came into effect yesterday. We summarise some of the main changes effective from 1 October 2009, as follows:-
- The Work and Families (Increase of Maximum Amount) Order 2009 raises the maximum amount of “a week’s pay”, for the purpose of calculating certain statutory payments, from £350 to £380. This will then remain unchanged until February 2011. Importantly, the weekly maximum is used to calculate statutory redundancy payments and basic awards for unfair dismissal, among other things.
- The National Minimum Wage Regulations 1999 (Amendment) Regulations 2009 raised the level of the national minimum wage (NMW) from £5.73 to £5.80 an hour for workers aged 22 and over; from £4.77 to £4.83 for 18 to 21-year-olds; and from £3.53 to £3.57 for 16 and 17-year-olds. The Regulations also change the law so that tips can no longer be used to top up wages to meet the NMW. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has published a ‘Code of Best Practice’ on tipping and service charges, which can be viewed here: http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file52948.pdf
- The Data Protection (Notification and Notification Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 introduce a new notification fee of £500 which will apply to register as a data controller for private sector organisations with a turnover of £25.9 million and 250 or more staff. The new £500 rate also applies to all public bodies with 250 or more staff. All other data controllers will continue to pay the current standard charge of £35 per annum, unless exempt from the requirement to notify altogether.
- The Supreme Court replaced the House of Lords as the highest appeal court in the UK.
If you would like any further information or advice on any of these changes, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Burness employment law team.
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