As April 2021 approaches, employers are reminded of some of the statutory changes that are upcoming, along with some crucial details that should be kept in mind — especially when it comes to the minimum wage, contracting, and the furlough scheme.

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National wage rates

The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, announced on 25 November 2020 that the National Living Wage (NLW) will increase by 2.2% to £8.91 per hour from 1 April 2021.

National wage rates will increase, as follows:

By law, it is important that employers pay staff the correct national wage rates for their age groups or risk facing serious repercussions for failing to do so. The risks range from unlawful deductions from wages claims, fines from the Government, and/or being “named and shamed” as a “rogue” employer.

IR35

The IR35 rule was introduced in 2000 to equalise the tax position between employees and individuals who provide their services, usually using a company (often called a Personal Services Company — PSC).

Currently, most contractors are required to determine their own status as employee or contractor. From 6 April 2021 the liability to determine a contractor’s tax status will pass to clients/employers.

This change was due to be introduced in April 2020 but was delayed until April 2021 due to the Covid-19 crisis. It is expected that this change will lead to a significant number of “contractors” having to pay extra tax and National Insurance as it is estimated that only 10% correctly determine their tax status. The change is being introduced to move the responsibility from the contractor to medium and large-sector clients.

Smaller clients will be exempt from this obligation and the contractor remains liable for determining their own tax status. A medium to large business is one that has two or more of the following:

In February 2021, the Government published new guidance which confirmed that companies will not have to pay penalties on any inaccuracies within the first 12 months of the new rules coming into effect, unless there is “clear evidence of deliberate non-compliance”. The aim of this is to help companies implement the new rules while also recognising the difficulties they may be under as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Statutory Sick Pay

Employers are liable for the payment of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to eligible employees. The current rate is £95.85 per week but this is set to rise to £96.35 from 6 April 2021.

Employers can choose to opt out of the SSP scheme, but only if they operate their own arrangement, such as continuation of wages or payment of company sick pay. However, this must never fall below the statutory rate of sick pay in any given year — it must be at or above the current SSP rate per year.

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Family leave

The weekly rates of the following statutory family leave pay will increase by 77p per week on 4 April 2021:

The increase will take the rates from £151.20 to £151.97 per week.

Employment tribunal compensation awards and rates

It has been confirmed that employment tribunal compensation rates are to increase from 6 April 2021. As of this date, the maximum week’s pay for redundancy pay purposes will increase from £538 to £544; however, statutory guarantee pay will be staying at £30.

This means that the maximum statutory redundancy pay, as well as unfair dismissal basic award pay, will both now be £16,320. The unfair dismissal compensatory award, which is set to compensate the claimant for past and future loss attributed to the dismissal, is a maximum of 52 weeks’ pay — subject to a new maximum of £89,493.

The maximum amount of additional award for unfair dismissal, set to compensate claimants when employers fail to adhere to a tribunal instruction to re-engage them, taking into account average weekly earnings, will rise to £28,288.

Lower earnings limit

The lower earnings limit in relation to eligibility for statutory payments is to remain at £120 per week so employers should not expect this to change on 6 April 2021.

Anyone earning, on average, lower than this amount will not be entitled to receive SSP, Statutory Maternity Pay and other statutory family pay.

Job Retention Scheme

As part of the Chancellor’s 2021 Spring Budget, it has now been confirmed that the Job Retention “furlough” Scheme will not be ending on 30 April 2021.

Employers will still be able to claim 80% of staff wages up to £2500, for their unworked hours, until the end of June 2021, after which the Government’s contributions will drop to 70%. Employers, from 1 July 2021, must contribute 10% to staff wages so that they still receive 80% of their wages for unworked hours. In August and September 2021, the Government’s contributions will drop again to cover 60% of wages, which means that employer contributions will need to increase to 20% of staff wages for their unworked hours.

In addition, from 1 May 2021 until the end of the scheme, employers will be able to furlough staff, for the first time, if they were employed by 2 March 2021. This will only be possible if they have made a PAYE Real Time Information submission for the employee, to HMRC, between 20 March 2020 and 2 March 2021.

Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries.

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