Time off for the Olympics

With the Olympic Games on 27th July—12th August, followed by the Paralympic Games on 29th August—9 September it is timely to start planning for team members who will want time off to watch the games. Coinciding with the height of the traditional holiday season, it is even more important this year to ensure both annual leave and smaller breaks are pre-planned and scheduled in. By putting out reminders to employees to get their holiday booking forms in and asking those who want time off to visit the games to do the same, this should prepare the in-house teams to be as prepared as the Olympic Teams and avoid unscheduled absence.

The Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

The Spring Bank Holiday has been moved to Monday 4th June 2012, to accompany the additional bank holiday on Tuesday 5th June 2012 to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee. For those organisations who are recognising it, various options are available. Some work places will close for both days, others with differing operational needs will allow some folks off with others being credited with Time in Lieu to be taken later in the season. All employers will need to ensure they operate a fair and consistent protocol. Check your Contracts of Employment to see what contractual entitlement your employees have. Decisions when the holiday is given in excess of contractual arrangements need to reflect the full time to part time ratio. For the Royal Wedding last year. Those organisations who gave the additional bank holiday found that the motivation and good will engendered by the gesture far outweighed the perceived cost. Motivating employees does not always mean putting extra £’s onto the pay slip.

National Minimum Wage

As from 1st October 2011. Aged 21 and above. £6.08 per hour. Aged 18 to 20. £4.98 per hour. Aged under 18 (but above compulsory school age). £3.68 per hour. Apprentices aged under 19. £2.60 per hour. Appretices aged 19 and over, in the first year of their apprenticeship. £2.60 per hour.

As from 1st February 2012 Statutory Redundancy Pay rises to £430 per week.

As from 1st February 2012. Statutory Redundancy Pay rises to £430 per week.

Statutory Rates

As of 5th April 2012. Statutory Maternity Pay £135.45 per week. Ordinary & Additional Statutory Paternity Pay £135.45 per week. Statutory Adoption Pay £135.45 per week. Statutory Sick Pay £85.85 per week.

Border Control Agency Increases its Spot Checks

Employers have been aware that since the amendment on 1st May 2004 to the Asylum & Immigration Act 1996, all new employees must have their Right to Residency & Right to Work checked before commencing work. As a reminder this entails checking the new employee’s Passport or Birth Certificate plus official documentation showing their National Insurance Number and keeping a photocopy of the originals on the personal file. These records can be checked at anytime without warning by the Border Control Agency and hefty fines imposed for each person to be found working illegally. Your processes should also include reminders for those people working under Work Permits or Visas, as when they expire, so may the workers right to remain.