by Michelle Bourne | May 2, 2024 | Payroll, statutory maternity pay, statutory sick pay
At Quickpaye, we’re committed to keeping our clients informed about important changes that may impact their payroll operations. As we approach the new tax year, it’s crucial to be aware of updates to statutory payments, which can affect both employers and employees.
Here’s what you need to know about the recent changes:
Standard Rate Increase for Statutory Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, and Shared Parental Payments:
Effective from April 6th, 2024, the standard rate for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP), Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP), and Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) has increased from £172.48 per week to £184.03 per week. This adjustment aims to provide greater support to employees during periods of leave related to childbirth, adoption, and childcare responsibilities.
What This Means for Employers:
- Employers should ensure that payroll systems are updated to reflect the new standard rate for statutory payments.
- When processing payroll for employees on maternity, paternity, adoption, or shared parental leave, employers should use the revised rate to calculate their entitlements accurately.
- It’s essential to communicate these changes to affected employees to avoid any confusion or discrepancies in their payments.
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) Changes:
Additionally, Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will see an increase from £109.40 per week to £116.75 per week, effective from April 6th, 2024. This adjustment aims to provide better support to employees who are unable to work due to illness or injury, ensuring that they receive adequate compensation during their absence from work.
If you are not yet working with us then this is how Quickpaye could help you:
At Quickpaye, we understand the importance of staying compliant with statutory payment regulations while ensuring accuracy and efficiency in payroll processing. Our comprehensive payroll solutions are designed to accommodate changes in statutory payments seamlessly, allowing employers to navigate these updates with ease.
- Our advanced payroll team automatically update statutory payment rates, ensuring that calculations are accurate and compliant with HMRC regulations.
- Our team of payroll experts is available to provide guidance and support, assisting you in understanding the implications of statutory payment changes.
- With Quickpaye by your side, you can rest assured that your payroll operations remain compliant, efficient, and hassle-free, allowing you to focus on running your business effectively.
As statutory payment rates increase, it’s essential for employers to stay informed and ensure compliance with updated regulations. With support from Quickpaye, clients can navigate these changes seamlessly, ensuring that their payroll operations remain accurate, compliant, and efficient. Stay tuned for more updates and guidance from Quickpaye as we continue to support your payroll needs.
by Michelle Bourne | Apr 17, 2018 | auto enrolment, national insurance, National Minimum Wage, PAYE, statutory maternity pay, statutory sick pay
AUTO ENROLMENT PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS INCREASE FROM APRIL
With effect from 6th April, the minimum automatic enrolment (AE) contributions you must pay towards your employees’ pensions will increase. You will now need to contribute at least 2%, whilst the employee is required to contribute 3% themselves through automatic wage deductions. The government has warned that any failure to abide by these new regulations will lead to financial penalties for the organisation in question
STATUTORY PAY RATES TO INCREASE
The weekly pay rates of statutory maternity pay (SMP), statutory adoption pay (SAP), statutory paternity pay (SPP) and shared parental pay (ShPP) will all increase from £140.98 to £145.18.
Coinciding with the new tax year, statutory sick pay (SSP) will increase from 6th April from £89.25 to £92.05 a week. The average weekly earnings limit which an employee must reach to be eligible for these statutory payments will also rise from £113 to £116 a week.
NATIONAL LIVING WAGE AND MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE
You will need to ensure you are paying your employees the new rates.
From the 01st April 2018 the Minimum Wage rates has increased as below:
- 25+ year olds – NMW (National Living Wage) will increase from £7.50 to £7.83 per hour
- 21 – 24 year olds – MW will increase from £7.05 to £7.38 per hour
- 18 – 20 year olds – MW will increase from £5.60 to £5.90 per hour
- 16 – 17 year olds – MW will increase from £4.05 to £4.20 per hour
- Apprentice rate (for apprentices under the age of 19 or 19 and over but in the first year
of apprenticeship) – MW will increase from £3.50 to £3.70 per hour
by siteadmin | Feb 8, 2017 | PAYE, statutory maternity pay, statutory sick pay
Another new tax year is fast approaching, and the new statutory rates are proposed as follows:
- The standard weekly rates of SMP, SAP, SPP and ShPP will increase from £139.58 to £140.98 – it is assumed this will be for payment weeks commencing on or after Sunday, 2 April 2017. The prescribed weekly rate of maternity allowance (MA) will also increase from £139.58 to £140.98.
- The weekly rate of SSP will increase from £88.45 to £89.35 from 6 April 2017.
- The earnings threshold, below which employees are not entitled to SMP, SAP, SPP, ShPP and SSP, will increase from £112 to £113 per week from 6 April 2017.
The rate increases reflect a 1% increase in the consumer price index (CPI) in the year to September 2016.
This will be the first time we have seen an increase since April 2015. This is because, although the rates normally increase each year in line with the CPI, a 0.1% fall in the CPI in the year to September 2015 meant that there were no rate increases in April 2016.
These rates are subject to Parliamentary approval, so changes are possible, but unlikely.
by siteadmin | Nov 16, 2016 | PAYE, statutory maternity pay
Because of the struggle involved in balancing business needs and support for working parents, maternity and childcare issues are often in the press.
Proposals to extend statutory maternity pay were recently put forward, from the current 39 weeks to 52 weeks, and to provide 15 hours of free childcare a week for children aged one to four years old.
The idea behind these proposals is to improve incomes and job prospects for working parents, which is often a struggle for employees who are juggling childcare and career progression.
It is not sure whether this will develop into government policy but with a hefty £2 billion price tag, it is certainly a radical idea which will carry pros and cons for both employers and employees.
The positives can be:
- Improved morale for working parents. They should feel more supported by their employer
- Improved reputation for the organisation in its approach to working families. Many job candidates like to see a company demonstrating empathy and support towards its employees
- Less stress for employees planning a family from a financial/career progression perspective. If women know they will receive extended maternity pay, and free childcare, earlier on they will worry less about the financial impact of becoming a parent, and hopefully discard the idea of not returning to work
- Women will be less likely to allow starting a family to affect their career plans
But there also may be negatives:
- Organisations could face workforce planning issues if more women take the full 52 weeks’ maternity leave
- Employees without children could argue they were being disadvantaged because they do not have them
- There may be an increase in pregnancy/maternity discrimination towards those employees benefiting from the increase in statutory maternity pay and free childcare
Out of these, the potential rise in discrimination claims is perhaps the most worrying for an employer as this could be potentially very costly. If this happens then it might be necessary to carry out refresher training on a wide range of equality issues.
Organisations would need to expressly state that all employees should be treated fairly and equally, regardless of their personal life choices, including whether or not to have a family.
Having a checklist to go through with employees before they go off on maternity leave, would be a good idea and should include:
- Confirmation of maternity leave dates
- Clarity on whether the employee will be accessing work emails during leave
- Confirmation from the employee on how she would prefer to be contacted during maternity leave
- Up-to-date phone, email and postal contact details for the employee
- A section that can be signed by the employer and employee to indicate that both parties have agreed to the arrangements
