Employment lawyers across the land will be writing an update for April providing this information.
Here’s ours. Have a quick read, take note where it’s relevant for you, move on.
All of the statutory rates (including minimum pay, sick pay and family friendly payments) are reviewed and updated in April each year. The ‘new’ rates including the dates they change are listed below.
National Minimum Wage Increase From 1 April 2022
The government has announced the annual increase to the national minimum wage and national living wage (for employees aged 23 and over). On or after 1 April 2022 the new minimum wage rates (per hour) will be:
- Age 23 or over : £9.50 (up from £8.91).
- Age 21 to 22: £9.18 (up from £8.36).
- Age 18 to 20: £6.83 (up from £6.56).
- Age 16 to 17: £4.81 (up from £4.62).
- Apprentice rate*: £4.81 (up from £4.30).
- Accommodation offset amount: £8.70 (up from £8.36).
*After the first year of the apprenticeship, an apprentice who is 19 or over is entitled to pay at the above minimum wage rates.
Statutory sick pay
Will rise to £99.35 per week (up from £96.35) on 6 April 2022.
Statutory family payments*
Will increase to £156.66 per week (up from £151.97) on 3 April 2022.
* Including statutory maternity pay, statutory adoption pay, statutory paternity pay, statutory shared parental pay and statutory parental bereavement pay.
Tribunal Awards: Injury to feelings
Claimant’s may be awarded compensation of ‘injury to feelings’ if they are successful in bringing a discrimination claim under the Equality Act 2010 or certain types of whistleblowing claims. The compensation is awarded subject to set bands (below) called the “Vento bands”.
The amount of compensation to be given for injured feelings are set out in three bands of potential awards (lower, middle and upper). The Vento bands for claims presented on or after 6 April 2022 will change to the following:
- Lower band – £990 to £9,900 (less serious cases);
- Middle band – £9,900 to £29,600 (cases that do not merit an award in the upper band); and
- Upper band – £29,600 to £49,300 (the most serious cases), with the most exceptional cases capable of exceeding £49,300.
Tribunal Awards: Unfair Dismissal
Weeks’ pay (used to calculate basic award): £571 from 6 April 2022 (up from £544)
Maximum compensatory award: £93,878 from 6 April 2022 (up from £89,493)
For more information or advice on this or any other employment law issue, please contact one of our specialist employment lawyers directly. Alternatively you can call 0115 9 100 200 or click here to send an email.
Posted on April 5, 2022
