Forthcoming legislation
In this topic we list forthcoming legislative changes, including the implementation of new laws and the dates when new statutory rates come into effect. We also list recent changes to the law and in HR that have already happened in a separate table.
Key points
- Major changes in employment law and HR are listed in these tables.
- This topic also contains key information related to the changes noted in the table.
- Many entries in the 'forthcoming legislation' table are marked as 'to be confirmed'. This is because even when a new law is made, the date on which it will come into force cannot be announced until relevant secondary regulations are in place that add details into a new law.
Forthcoming changes
This table shows forthcoming changes. See the forthcoming legislation in-depth page and relevant employment law topic for more information on these new statutes and amendments.
|
Recent developments
This table shows changes that have taken place:
| 26 October 2023 |
Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill has now received Royal Assent, so it is now the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act. It is likely to be implemented from around October 2024. |
||||||||||||
| 25 October 2023 |
Acas launches its consultation on the draft Code of Practice on handling requests for more predictable terms, because of the Workers (Predictable T&Cs) Act 2023. The consultation will close on 17 January 2024. |
||||||||||||
| 24 October 2023 |
New rate of Real Living Wage in place The new rate of the Real Living Wage was announced, and is now in place. Employers committed to paying this voluntary amount however have six months to increase employee pay; this must be done by 1 May 2024. The 2023 - 24 rates are:
|
||||||||||||
| 18 September 2023 |
Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023 received Royal Assent. When in force this will give all workers the right to request a more predictable and stable contract after 26 weeks' service, and be compensated for shifts cancelled at short notice. |
||||||||||||
|
18 September 2023 |
Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act 2023 received Royal Assent on 18 September 2023. Once implemented, this will lower the age at which eligible workers must be automatically enrolled into a pension scheme by their employer from 22 to 18. Consultation on implementing the new measures will begin in due course. |
||||||||||||
| 6 September 2023 |
Consultation on the draft Code of Practice on flexible working closed. |
||||||||||||
| 25 August 2023 |
The Department of Business and Trade published a draft statutory code of practice on the "reasonable steps" a trade union should take to comply with the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 and consultation on the draft was opened. Government consults on minimum service levels code of practice |
||||||||||||
| 10 August 2023 |
The law allowing employers to use agency staff to cover for striking workers was reversed. Court rules that agency staff cannot be used to cover strikes |
||||||||||||
| 20 July 2023 |
The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 received Royal Assent. Secondary legislation and further consultation is needed before this is implemented, which the government has confirmed will happen "in due course". |
||||||||||||
| 20 July 2023 |
The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 received Royal Assent. |
||||||||||||
| 7 July 2023 |
Consultation on reforms to the Working Time Regulations 1998, holiday pay and TUPE closed. |
||||||||||||
| 29 June 2023 |
The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 received Royal Assent. |
||||||||||||
| 24 May 2023 |
Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 received Royal Assent. This will provide employees with up to 12 weeks’ paid leave if their child (aged under 28 days or under) requires a hospital stay of over seven days. This is expected to be implemented by April 2025. |
||||||||||||
| 24 May 2023 |
Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act received Royal Assent. This extends redundancy protection from when pregnancy is first disclosed, to 18 months after birth. The protection is also extended for adoption and shared parental leave. It is expected to be implemented in April 2024. |
||||||||||||
| 24 May 2023 |
The Carer's Leave Act received Royal Assent. Unpaid carer's will get a statutory day-one right to unpaid carer's leave for employees of up to one week (5 days) per year. This is likely to be implemented in April 2024. |
||||||||||||
| 8 May 2023 |
Extra bank holiday to mark the Coronation of King Charles |
||||||||||||
| 2 May 2023 |
This Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act received Royal Assent. The commencement date for this new to apply has not yet been announced. A statutory code of practice on allocating tips will be released, and will provide details on how to be complaint with the new law. |
||||||||||||
| 20 April 2023 |
Acas published new guidance for employers on making reasonable adjustments for mental health in the workplace. |
||||||||||||
| 17 April 2023 |
Government published response to consultation on ethnicity pay gap data, and guidance on producing voluntary ethnicity pay gap reports. |
||||||||||||
| 6 April 2023 |
Compensation limits, statutory guarantee pay and weekly redundancy payments
|
||||||||||||
| 6 April 2023 |
The Lower Earnings Limit, the amount over which must be earned to qualify for many employment-related statutory payments, remained at £123. |
||||||||||||
| 6 April 2023 |
The SSP rate increased from £99.35 per week to £109.40. |
||||||||||||
| 2 April 2023 |
Statutory Maternity/Paternity/Adoption/Shared Parental/Parental Bereavement Pay Family friendly payment rates increased to £172.48 |
||||||||||||
| 1 April 2023 |
New NLW and NMW rates
|
||||||||||||
| 5 December 2022 |
Ban on exclusivity clauses was extended to employees on contracts with a guaranteed weekly income below or equivalent to the Lower Earnings Limit (LEL). |
||||||||||||
| 6 November 2022 |
Repeal of health and social care levy The 1.25% NI contribution increase brought in on 6 April 2022 was reversed. The message "1.25% uplift in NICs funds NHS, health & social care" to be removed from payslips from this pay period. |
||||||||||||
| 1 October 2022 |
A permanent system of digital right to work checks replaced temporary covid measures. |
||||||||||||
| 22 September 2022 |
The new UK and London rates of the Real Living Wage were announced. |
||||||||||||
| 21 July 2022 |
Legislation that prevented employers from engaging temporary workers to undertake duties normally performed by striking workers was repealed, making it easier for employers to reduce the impact of industrial action. |
||||||||||||
|
20 July 2022 |
Outcome in Harpur Trust v Brazel issued by the Supreme Court. This case confirmed that part-year workers should not have their holiday pro-rated in accordance with the weeks they have worked; they are entitled to a full 5.6 every year. This case also rejected the use of 12.07% of hours worked in calculating leave and pay entitlement, rendering the practice of 'rolled-up holiday pay' unlawful. |
||||||||||||
| 6 July 2022 |
National insurance primary threshold increased |
||||||||||||
| 1 July 2022 |
More medical professionals became able to certify fit notes, including nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists, and physiotherapists, where they are working in a general practice or hospital setting. |
||||||||||||
|
15 May 2022 |
Final date for implementation of voluntary living wage increase | ||||||||||||
| 6 April 2022 |
Three-month "flexi-job" apprenticeship introduced |
||||||||||||
| 6 April 2022 |
The lower earnings limit increased for the first time in two years, to £123 |
||||||||||||
| 6 April 2022 |
HMRC asked that payslips include a message to say "1.25% uplift in NICs funds NHS, health & social care." |
||||||||||||
| 6 April 2022 |
The following rates increased: Compensation limits, statutory guarantee pay and weekly redundancy payments Dismissal | Termination of Employment National insurance contributions increased by 1.25% |
||||||||||||
| 6 April 2022 |
The ability to manually check the status of those with a biometric residence card or permit, or frontier work permit, was removed. Now, only online checks are possible. In order to complete these checks, employers need the individual's date of birth and right to work share code. |
||||||||||||
| 3 April 2022 |
Family friendly payment rates increased, including SMP, SAP, ShPP, SPP and SPBP |
||||||||||||
| 1 April 2022 |
National minimum wage rates increased Letter advising of pay increase Fit notes no longer have to be signed by a doctor |
||||||||||||
| 28 March 2022 |
The legal requirement to self-isolate in Wales due to covid was revoked. |
||||||||||||
| 24 March 2022 |
The COVID-19 provisions within the Statutory Sick Pay and Employment and Support Allowance regulations were removed. This included SSP payments for those isolating (unless too unwell to work), and the payment of SSP from day 1. All claims under the SSP rebate scheme for covid-related sickness had to be submitted, and all amendments to claims made, before this date |
||||||||||||
|
17 March 2022 |
The SSP rebate scheme for covid-related sickness closed |
||||||||||||
| 15 March 2022 |
Laws requiring mandatory vaccination for those working in care homes and within health and social care were revoked |
||||||||||||
| 24 February 2022 |
Covid updates - England only
|
||||||||||||
| January 2022 |
The claims portal for SSP rebate payments opened |
||||||||||||
| 31 December 2021 |
All claims relating to SSP payments before 1 October 2021 had to have been made by this date under the SSP rebate scheme. |
||||||||||||
| 31 December 2021 |
Wales and Northern Ireland aligned with England to reduce the self-isolation period for Covid positive individuals from 10 days to 7, subject to two negative lateral flow tests |
||||||||||||
| 24 December 2021 |
Deadline for care home workers and volunteers to provide temporary self-certification of vaccination exemption. |
||||||||||||
| 21 December 2021 |
The SSP rebate scheme, previously closed at the end of September 2021, was reopened for absences on or after this date. Employees who were previously claimed for under the old scheme could again be claimed for under the reopened scheme. |
||||||||||||
| 11 November 2021 |
All workers over 18 (unless medically exempt) employed to work in care homes in England, registered by the CQC, providing personal or nursing care, were required to be double vaccinated. This included those coming into the home to provide services. |
||||||||||||
| 09 November 2021 |
The final stage of Harpur Trust v Brazel was heard by the supreme court. |
||||||||||||
| 5 October 2021 |
The EHRC restarted enforcement of the publication of gender pay gaps for public and private companies in 2021. |
||||||||||||
| 1 October 2021 |
The NHS Covid Pass was launched, that could be used by care home workers / volunteers to apply for and evidence their exemption to the Covid vaccine requirement. |
||||||||||||
| 30 September 2021 |
Modern slavery statements deadline for businesses whose financial year ended in April. |
||||||||||||
| 30 September 2021 |
The Covid SSP rebate scheme came to an end. From this date, absences had to be paid in full by the employer. |
||||||||||||
| 30 September 2021 |
The Job Retention Scheme finished. |
||||||||||||
| 15 September 2021 |
Covid-restrictions update Shielding officially ended, with decisions regarding the care of most vulnerable people to be made by specialists caring for them. |
||||||||||||
| 26 August 2021 |
The ability to perform right to work checks remotely, instead of having to see in person original documents, was extended to 5 April 2022. |
||||||||||||
|
16 August 2021 |
Covid-restrictions update Those who had received both vaccinations, and under 18s, no longer had to isolate following close contact with a positive Covid case, but were advised to get a PCR test as soon as possible. |
||||||||||||
|
21 July 2021 |
The government response to consultation on sexual harassment in the workplace was published. |
||||||||||||
|
30 June 2021 |
EU Settlement Scheme closed to applicants. New right to work checks introduced. |
||||||||||||
|
21 June 2021 |
Covid-restrictions relaxation date - England All remaining restrictions lifted. Nightclubs reopened. |
||||||||||||
|
Early June 2021 |
Covid-restrictions relaxation date - Scotland Minimal restrictions remained in place. |
||||||||||||
|
31 May 2021 |
The right not to be subjected to a detriment as a result of health and safety claims was extended to workers. |
||||||||||||
|
End of May 2021 |
Covid-restrictions relaxation date - Wales Relaxed for indoor hospitality and remaining visitor accommodation in advance of Spring Bank Holiday. |
||||||||||||
|
17 May 2021 |
Covid-restrictions relaxation date - Wales Indoor children’s indoor activities resumed and community centres reopened. Organised indoor activities for adults allowed, limited to a maximum of 15 people. This included exercise classes. |
||||||||||||
|
17 May 2021 |
Covid-restrictions relaxation date - Scotland Indoor hospitality returned to greater normality. Cinemas, amusement arcades and bingo halls reopened. |
||||||||||||
|
3 May 2021 |
Covid-restrictions relaxation date - Wales Gyms, leisure centres and fitness facilities reopened. |
||||||||||||
|
30 April 2021 |
The Job Retention Scheme was extended until the end of September. |
||||||||||||
|
30 April 2021 |
Confirmation that termination payments for staff previously furloughed had to be based on normal pay, rather than furlough pay. |
||||||||||||
|
26 April 2021 |
Covid-restrictions relaxation date - Wales Outdoor hospitality reopened. |
||||||||||||
|
26 April 2021 |
Covid-restrictions relaxation date - Scotland Hospitality reopened for outdoor service, in groups of up to six from three households until 10pm. All remaining non-essential retail reopened. |
||||||||||||
|
12 April 2021 |
Covid-restrictions relaxation date - England Hairdressers, nail salons, non-essential retail, gyms, libraries and holiday lets re-opened in England. Pubs and restaurants re-opened for outdoor service with no curfew or food restrictions (with rule of six). |
||||||||||||
|
6 April 2021 |
Vento bands updated following presidential guidance of the Employment Tribunals. |
||||||||||||
|
6 April 2021 |
IR35 update: large and medium sized organisations in the private sector who engage contractors through intermediary companies became responsible for assessing the employment status of those contractors. |
||||||||||||
|
6 April 2021 |
New minimum wage and weekly redundancy pay rates came into force. |
||||||||||||
|
6 April 2021 |
Changes to taxation of termination payments. |
||||||||||||
|
4 April 2021 |
New family leave rates came into force. |
||||||||||||
|
1 April 2021 |
New NMW and NLW rates were introduced. |
||||||||||||
|
1 April 2021 |
Employers required to keep NMW records for 6, rather than 3, years. |
||||||||||||
|
30 March / 4 April 2021 |
Deadline for Gender Pay Gap reporting for the previous year. |
||||||||||||
|
31 March 2021 |
Employees in receipt of furlough pay to have statutory payments based on normal pay. |
||||||||||||
|
1 January 2021 |
New immigration scheme came into force for all applicants regardless of nationality. |
||||||||||||
|
31 December 2020 |
The Court of Appeal able move away from retained EU case law. |
||||||||||||
|
14 December 2020 |
Period of self-isolation reduced to 10 days. |
||||||||||||
|
1 December 2020 |
Early conciliation extended to 6 weeks |
||||||||||||
|
1 December 2020 |
Notice pay could no longer be claimed under the CJRS. |
||||||||||||
|
31 October 2020 |
The Job Retention Scheme was extended allowing new applicants to be furloughed and 80% of their wages claimed. |
||||||||||||
|
28 September 2020 |
Fines introduce for employers allowing workers who have tested positive for Covid-19 to attend the workplace. |
||||||||||||
|
1 September 2020 |
Employers started funding 10% of the 80% wage payable to furloughed staff. |
||||||||||||
|
1 August 2020 |
Employers started funding national insurance and pension contributions for furloughed workers. |
||||||||||||
|
1 July 2020 |
Part-time furlough was introduced. |
||||||||||||
|
30 June 2020 |
The original Job Retention Scheme closed to new applicants. |
||||||||||||
|
29 May 2020 |
The Job Retention Scheme was extended to the end of October. |
||||||||||||
|
26 May 2020 |
The Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme launched. |
||||||||||||
|
30 April 2020 |
Deadline for agency workers on Swedish derogation agency contracts to be provided with an explanatory statement. |
||||||||||||
|
17 April 2020 |
Statutory sick pay extended to individuals who were 'shielding' from coronavirus. |
||||||||||||
|
6 April 2020 |
Parental Bereavement Leave was introduced. |
||||||||||||
|
6 April 2020 |
New law requiring employment businesses to provide all agency workers with a Key Information Document took effect. |
||||||||||||
|
6 April 2020 |
New law extending the holiday pay reference period to 52 weeks took effect. |
||||||||||||
|
6 April 2020 |
Amendments to mandatory information required within a statement of main terms and conditions came into force. |
||||||||||||
|
6 April 2020 |
New day-one right to a written statement of main terms and conditions for workers and employees came into force. |
||||||||||||
|
6 April 2020 |
The threshold for the right to request information and consultation arrangements was reduced to 2% of employees, subject to a minimum of 15 employees. |
||||||||||||
|
6 April 2020 |
New law prohibiting use of Swedish derogation agency contracts took effect. |
||||||||||||
|
6 April 2020 |
Increase to statutory sick pay (SSP) rate |
||||||||||||
|
6 April 2020 |
Increase to tribunal compensation rates |
||||||||||||
|
5 April 2020 |
Increase to statutory maternity pay, paternity pay, adoption pay and shared parental pay |
Log in or Subscribe Now
To view all content on this page, you can log in or Subscribe now
Log in or Subscribe Now
To view all content on this page, you can log in or Subscribe now