Employment law dates overview 22/23

 5 December 2022

Ban on exclusivity clauses was extended to employees on contracts with a guaranteed weekly income below or equivalent to the Lower Earnings Limit (LEL).

 6 November 2022

Repeal of health and social care levy 

The 1.25% NI contribution increase brought in on 6 April 2022 will be reversed. 

Payslips containing the message “slips “1.25% uplift in NICs funds NHS, health & social care” to be removed from this pay period.  

 1 October 2022 

A permanent system of digital right to work checks replaced temporary covid measures.

 22 September 2022

The new UK and London rates of the Real Living Wage were announced. 

 21 July 2022

Legislation that prevented employers from engaging temporary workers to undertake duties normally performed by striking workers has been repealed, making it easier for employers to reduce the impact of industrial action.

 20 July 2022 

Outcome in Harpur Trust v Brazel issued by the Supreme Court. This case confirms that part-year workers should not have their holiday pro-rata in accordance with the weeks they have worked; they are entitled to a full 5.6 every year. 

This case also rejected the use of 12.07% of hours worked in calculating leave and pay entitlement. This will impact especially those employers using ‘rolled up holiday pay’, and contracts will need to be changed in recognition of this. Morning forwards, holiday should be based on a 52 working week average. 

 6 July 2022 

National insurance primary threshold increased 

 1 July 2022 

More medical professionals are now able to certify fit notes, including nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists, and physiotherapists, where they are working in a general practice or hospital setting. 

 15 May 2022

Final date for implementation of voluntary living wage increase 

 6 April 2022 

 Three-month “flexi-job” apprenticeship introduced

 6 April 2022 

The lower earnings limit will increase for the first time in two years, to £123

 6 April 2022

HMRC has asked that payslips include a message to say “1.25% uplift in NICs funds NHS, health & social care.” This is in place until 5 April 2023.

 6 April 2022

The following rates will increase: 

SSP rate 

Compensation limits, statutory guarantee pay and weekly redundancy payments 

National insurance contributions will increase by 1.25%

 6 April 2022

The ability to manually check the status of those with a biometric residence card or permit, or frontier work permit, was removed. Now, only online checks are possible. In order to complete these checks, employers need the individual’s date of birth and right to work share code. 

 3 April 2022

Family friendly payment rates will increase, including SMP, SAP, ShPP, SPP and SPBP

 1 April 2022

National minimum wage rates increases 

Letter advising of pay increase

Fit notes no longer have to be signed by a doctor