Employment Law Update April 2025

The following Employment Law changes have been signed off and will be effective from early April:

1. National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage Rates from 1st April 2025

• Wage band Rate from 1 April 2025
• Age 21 or over (National Living Wage) £12.21
• Age 18 to 20 (National Minimum Wage) £10.00
• Under 18 (National Minimum Wage) £7.55
• Apprentice (National Minimum Wage) £7.55

The higher rate will apply from the next ‘pay reference period’ after the 1 April. If you need further support there is advice on the GOV.UK website. If that doesn’t get you the answers you need, please give one of us a call.

2. Family leave rates of pay
The weekly rate for Statutory Maternity, Adoption, Paternity, Shared Parental and Parental Bereavement Pay will increase from £184.03 to £187.18 from 6 April 2025. This rate will also apply to the new Neonatal Care Pay that comes in on 6 April (see below).

3. Statutory Sick pay (SSP)
The lower earnings limit to be eligible for SSP will increase from £123 to £125 per week and the rate of pay for those off sick from the 4th day of being unfit for work will increase from £116.75 to £118.75.

4. Neonatal Care Leave and Pay
If you have a member of staff whose baby is born on or after 6 April 2025 and needs at least 7 consecutive days of hospital or palliative care, within 28 days of their birth, please get in touch. The member of staff will be entitled to this new leave and they may be entitled to pay too (£187.18 for each week of leave). We will look at their case with you and supply the forms and letters you will need, enabling you to give the new parents the time and space to focus on their newborn.

The new National Insurance (NI) increases will also kick in from 6 April. For support and advice on this please approach your payroll provider or accountant in the first instance.

Our team are here to help you with any questions or concerns you might have.

Sarah Goddard – MCIPD
Director
sarah.goddard@turnstonehr.com

David Nicholson – MCIPD
Consultant
d.nicholson@turnstonehr.com

Nicki James – Assoc. CIPD
Consultant
nicki.james@turnstonehr.com

Lizy Scullion
Administrative Support
lizy.scullion@turnstonehr.com

Tel. (07715) 822216