The government has confirmed that minimum wage rates will increase from April 2022. The rates are to change as follows:
- National Living Wage (23+) £8.91 – £9.50
- 21–22-year-old rate – £8.36 – £9.18
- 18–20-year-old rate – £6.56 – £6.83
- 16-17-year-old-rate – £4.62 – £4.81
- Apprentice rate – £4.30 – £4.81
- Accommodation Offset – £8.36 – £8.70
Family friendly leave rates are also changing. This includes maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, and parental bereavement leave. This will go from £151.97 to £156.66 per week.
Statutory sick pay (SSP) is also set to change from £96.35 per week to £99.35 per week.
The lower earning limit, though which entitlement to family leave and sick pay is calculated, will rise to £123 per week.
Other upcoming changes
2022 could turn into an incredibly busy year for HR, with a number of changes set to be put in motion without a concrete date. This includes:
- Flexible working – following a consultation, the government is considering the option to allow employees to request flexible working from day one of employment.
- Ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting – 2022 could see the first real step towards standardising this type of report.
- Data protection – the ICO is due to issue updated employment practice guidance on data this year.
- Sexual harassment – A new duty for employers to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace is expected to come into force this year.
- Right-to-work checks – The scheme became digital as a result of the pandemic and was met with overwhelming positive feedback. As a result, the government is set to make the change permanent later this year.
- Modern Slavery – Reforms to the Modern Slavery Act are expected late this year. When this happens, you may need to review your anti-slavery statements.