As the world continues to change, so does the employment landscape. It can be challenging for smaller businesses to keep up with the evolving expectations of the workforce and the needs of business owners. Therefore, it’s crucial for small company owners to be aware and plan accordingly for employment law changes coming in 2023. While there may be politics at play in proposed legislation, it’s worth staying abreast of what’s being discussed.
In 2021, there are important employment law changes to keep in mind. Increases to the National Minimum Wage came into effect on April 1, with rates varying based on age and status. Statutory maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, and sick pay have also increased from April 2. Additionally, there will be an extra bank holiday to mark the new King’s coronation on May 8, which may or may not apply to employees depending on their contracts of employment.
One of the primary legislative changes for small business owners to be aware of in 2023 is the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill 2022, which will allow the government to change all the EU laws retained since Brexit. The bill has wide-reaching implications with regards to employment laws, including agency workers’ rights and regulations affecting staff transferring between businesses. Although there are no details yet, proposed changes to the law around how people are employed will continue to emerge over the next few months.
Employers should also be aware of confirmed plans to change flexible working requests, making it easier for employees to request and receive them. Additionally, a new code of practice for fire and rehire procedures has been issued, and while not legally binding, it could result in a 25% increase in any award if the code is not followed.
Proposed legislation, such as the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill and the consultation on how pay should be calculated for workers with irregular or zero-hour contracts, may have important implications for businesses. While it may be challenging for business owners to keep up with these matters, they are essential and will impact businesses in significant ways.
