What’s ahead in 2017?

2017 holds serious and substantial changes in employment law and HR. And the pending Article 50 trigger opens the door to additional changes.

Immigration and Employers

Employing Foreign Workers

The Government hopes to reduce reliance on workers from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland.

Beginning in April, companies sponsoring foreign workers will pay an immigration skills charge of £1,000 per employee holding a Tier 2 visa. Smaller employers and charities will only pay £364 per employee.

Additionally, the minimum salary for a Tier 2 visa holder will increase to £30,000 with some transitional arrangements available for those who applied before 25 November of 2016.

Businesses Employing Illegal Workers Face Closure

Section 38 of the Immigration Act 2016 provides for extended business closure should an employer hire illegal foreign workers. An employer suspected of hiring illegal foreign workers (and who has committed other offences of illegal working) can be shut for up to 48 hours. Additional closures of up to 24 months are possible. Learn more at UK.gov.

Wage Changes

Changes for the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage in 2017

While the government plans for the National Living Wage to rise to £9 per hour by 2020, for 2017 the changes are as follows.

• National Living Wage (workers 25 and over) will rise 30p to £7.50 per hour.
• National Minimum Wage for 21-24-year-olds will rise to £7.05 per hour.
• National Minimum Wage for 18-20-year-olds will rise to £5.60 per hour.
• National Minimum Wage for 16-17-year-olds will rise to £4.05 per hour.
• National Minimum Wage for apprentices younger than 19, or over 19 in their first year of apprenticeship will rise to £3.50 per hour.

All of these changes are scheduled for April 1.

Gender Pay-Gap Reporting

Beginning in April 2017 companies employing 250 or more are required to publish mean and median gender pay gaps. While the first reports are not due out until April 2018, employers should begin gathering data.

Read more about Gender Pay Gap Reporting.

Slavery and Human Trafficking

Private organisations with more than £36 million turnover are required to issue a statement outlining the steps they have taken to ensure no part of their business or supply chain is participating in human trafficking or slavery. Alternatively, organisations may issue a statement explaining that they have taken no such steps.

Penalties for failing to submit Modern Slavery statements can include injunctions and even prison terms for directors.

Changes to Pension

The new flat-rate pension scheme is proposed to simplify the pension system and everyone’s pension will be affected. Highlights include a rise in the number of years required to qualify for full state pension, a rise in the minimum number of years to qualify, a rise in the minimum pension, as well as changes to tax rate contributions of both employee and employers.

DLP will post a complete analysis of Pension Changes in a few weeks.

Sunday Shop Workers

A reduction in the notice period for workers in large shops to opt out of Sunday work, paired with the right of Sunday workers to object to working longer than their normal hours will offer additional protection for shop workers. The date for these changes have not been formalised.

Childcare Changes

Increase in Free Childcare

Beginning in September 2017, free childcare will double from 15 to 30 hours per week for children aged 3 and 4 in working families.

Tax-free Childcare Scheme

The Government will pay 20% of yearly childcare costs up to £2,000 per year for each child. Tax-free Childcare will be available for families with children under 12, where each parent earns less than £100,000 annually with a minimum weekly income equal to 16 hours of the then-current National Minimum Wage.

The implementation date for the Tax-free Childcare Scheme has not been finalised.

Changes to Salary Sacrifice Schemes

Beginning April 6, 2017 tax savings for many previously available deductions will no longer be available.

Employees will no longer be allowed to start a salary sacrifice for gym memberships, IT equipment and private medical insurance. Salary sacrifice schemes for these items in place before April 2017 will be protected through April 2018.

Employees will also not be allowed to start a salary sacrifice for school fees, accommodation and cars, yet any scheme in place prior to April 2017 is protected through April 2021.

Salary sacrifice schemes for pension savings, Ultra-Low emission vehicles, cycle-to-work and child care are not affected.

Apprenticeships and the Apprenticeship Levy

A 1/2 percent levy will be assessed against large employers salary payments (> £3 million per year in salaries) to help fund additional apprenticeship opportunities for 16-24 years olds. The Levy is anticipated to raise £3 billion a year to fund 3,000,000 apprenticeships in the next five years.

Additionally, those with 250 or more employees will be subject to an apprenticeship target of 2.3% of their total workforce.

Trade Union Balloting

Industrial Action Union Balloting will require a 50% turnout for voting and a majority vote in favour of industrial actions. Ballots involving public service employees requires that 40% of eligible voters support an action.

Changes are expected to come into effect March 1.

Gig Economy Changes

Following the Uber tribunal verdict in October 2016 as well as investigations into Amazon, Deliveroo and others DLP anticipates additional rulings related to zero hours contracts. The outcome of Uber’s tribunal appeal could signal significant changes related to employment status determination.

Brexit

While many UK employment laws are independent of the EU (National Minimum Wage) DLP anticipates changes to Working Time Regulations, Right to Work and Agency Worker’s Rights. The details of the changes will not be fully known for some time — possibly up to the 2 years anticipated to negotiate exit from the EU.

Important Data Protection Regulations

While the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) does not come into effect until May 2018, employers should begin preparing for GDPR immediately. Businesses could face fines of up to €20 million or 4% of worldwide turnover (whichever is higher) for failure to comply.

2017 holds many changes for employers and employees.

Should you have any questions feel free to reach out to our help line. DLP advisors are available to answer any questions you may have at 0330 400 4495.