Employment law update: Consultation paper on additional paternity leave and pay

The Government intends that the legislation will be in force from April 2010, with effect for parents of babies due on or after 3 April 2011.

Compensation Awards from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009:
Unfair Dismissal £84,005 (uncapped if related to discrimination)
Race Discrimination £1,353,432
Sex Discrimination £113,106

Disability Discrimination £388,612
Age Discrimination £90,031

NEW Regular Feature ‘Stats Corner’
This will appear in every newsletter as regular reminder of the statutory payments

National Minimum Wage  
(reviewed each October) Hourly Pay Rate
£5.80 from 1 October workers aged 22 and older
£4.83 from 1 October workers aged 18 to 21
£3.57 from 1 October workers aged 16 to 17

£95.00 per week for Apprentices on National Apprentice Scheme

Maternity/Adoption Pay SMP/SAP is paid for 39 weeks
Pay rate for first six weeks of SMP: 90% of the employee’s average weekly earning

SMP remaining weeks/SAP: £123.06 or 90% of average weekly earning, whichever is less

Paternity/Partner’s Pay SPP is paid for two weeks
Pay rate: £123.06 or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is less
Sick Pay £79.15 per week
Redundancy Pay Pay rate:
0.5 week’s pay for each year of service for employees aged under 22 (a week’s pay is £380)
1 week’s pay for each year of service for employees between the ages of 22 and 40
1.5 week’s pay for each year of service for employees aged 41 and older
Tribunal Compensation Limits Limits on Pay: 1 day £21.50 1 week £380
Unfair Dismissal
Basic Award:
£11,400; maximum 30 weeks pay
Compensatory Award: £66,200
Breach of Contract : Maximum Award : £25,000