HR Changes for 2021

The new tax year is often when HR changes are brought in and this year is no exception. Whilst there are fewer changes than normal this year, there are a few crucial updates, particularly around payroll that you don’t want to miss.

Payroll Changes

· Increase to the National Living Wage and national minimum wage – from 1st April the rate of pay for all employees increased as shown below, and the National Living Wage became applicable to all those aged 23 and over (previously only applicable to those aged 25 and over):

· Increase to statutory family-related pay – statutory family-rated pay (maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and parental bereavement pay) increased to £151.97 per week from 4th April.

· Increase to statutory sick pay – statutory sick pay increased to £96.35 per week from 6th April.

· Increase in personal tax allowance – the personal allowance has increased to £12,570 for the year which means that employee’s tax codes are likely to have changed and is worth checking the codes during your payroll run.

Future HR Changes to Remember

· Right to work checks – whilst immigration laws change on 1st January as a response to BREXIT, the change to how right to work checks for EEA nationals are completed doesn’t come into effect until 1st July. From this date, for any new employees from the EEA, you as an employer will need to use an online checking service to make sure that they have a right to work in the UK, either through a settled or pre-settled status or applicable visa.

Any changes, no matter how small, can be daunting to implement, therefore if you have any queries or would like support on any HR changes, please call 0117 9702755 or email catherine@almc.co.uk and we would be happy to help.