October (along with April) is always a busy month for employment law. It’s when changes take effect.
These include, from 1 October 2015:
- An increase in the National Minimum Wage from £6.50 to £6.70 per hour for those aged 21 and over. For workers aged between 18 and 20, it increased to £5.30 and for those aged between 16 and 17 it’s now £3.87. The apprentice rate is £3.30.
- A ban on smoking in cars in England, following the ban’s introduction in Wales. Smoking in any private vehicle is now prohibited if there are child (under 18) passengers. It’s worth looking at your policies on smoking and company cars in light of this change.
- Sikh workers who wear turbans are now exempt from wearing safety helmets in all workplaces and not just on construction sites, as was the previous rule. There are only a few situations in which this exemption won’t apply.
For more information on any aspect of Employment Law contact please Alison Gair