Employment Rights & Workplace Policy Archives

A payment is coming for Low Earners. Is Your Payroll Team Ready for the August Questions?

From August 2026, payroll teams should expect employee queries about the new Low Earner’s Pension Payment. HMRC will contact around one million eligible individuals directly, addressing the long-standing difference in pension tax relief between net pay arrangement and relief at source schemes. The change matters because two employees can make the same workplace pension contribution […]

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Pension schemes

Pension Payment for Low paid

Tax relief for employee pension contributions to pensions schemes is given in two different ways: The Net Pay Arrangement This is where contributions are deducted from an employee’s pay and tax relief is given to the employee at source, applied at their marginal rate. Relief at Source Contributions are deducted after tax and NIC and […]

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Employment Rights & Workplace Policy

Consultation on Rights for Zero Hour Contract Workers

The Department for Business and Trade has launched the latest round of consultations under the government’s manifesto to Make Work Pay. This recent consultation is seeking views on ongoing proposals to end one sided flexibility by ensuring that all jobs provide a baseline of security for workers. The focus of the consultation seeks views on […]

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Employment Rights & Workplace Policy

Payroll Beyond 6 April: The Employment Rights Act Has More Coming Than You Think

6 April was a major payroll date, but it was not the finish line. The Employment Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025, which means the legal framework is now in place. The real challenge for payroll teams is that several provisions are being phased in, so compliance does not stop with […]

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Employment Rights & Workplace Policy

Fair Work Agency: a new enforcement era for payroll

The Fair Work Agency is now the UK’s new executive agency for enforcing workers’ rights. For payroll professionals, this is not just a policy update. It is a practical reminder that pay accuracy, holiday records, agency worker processes and statutory payments must be audit-ready. The agency was formed in April 2026 and is sponsored by […]

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Employment Rights & Workplace Policy

Gender pay gap action plans – Update

We previously published an article highlighting the Government’s proposals to introduce requirements for large employers with 250 or more employees to create voluntary action plans that show how they reduce gender pay gap and support employees experiencing menopause. This voluntary proposal was ahead of the mandatory timeline which will take effect from April 2027. At […]

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Holiday pay

Average Holiday Pay for Monthly Employees: A Payroll Compliance Refresher

Monthly paid employees can still need an average holiday pay calculation. The key question is not how often they are paid, but whether their pay is fixed or includes variable elements such as overtime, commission, allowances, or shift payments. Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, regulation 16 says: “A worker is entitled to be paid […]

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Fuel Rates

Approved Mileage Rates – Review

Chancellor Rachael Reeves recently announced that there is to be a review of the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment (AMAP) rates, “ahead of a future budget”, as expected this was welcomed by many but a more definite or earlier time frame would have been more beneficial given this is something that many employers and motoring industry […]

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Parental Leave

Paternity Pay and Leave changes linked to Shared Parental Leave

For payroll professionals, the key message for the 2026/27 tax year is this: from 6 April 2026, the rules are more flexible for fathers and partners using Paternity Leave alongside Shared Parental Leave, while the statutory weekly pay rate has increased. The government has also confirmed that Paternity Leave is now a day one right […]

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Employment Rights & Workplace Policy

Job Guarantees for Young People

We previously advised on the Chancellors’ intention to ensure all young people who have been on Universal Credits for 18 months or longer will be offered a guaranteed paid work placement. Those who do not take up the offer could face losing their benefits. This comes amidst growing concerns on how to tackle youth unemployment […]

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Employment Rights & Workplace Policy

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