Laura Chalkley, employment advisory service manager at NPA business partner, Ellis Whittam, looks at six things to keep on your HR radar in the coming year.

Minimum wage

The hourly National Living Wage (the rate for those who are 25 or over) will increase from £7.50 to £7.83 from April 2018.

The hourly National Minimum Wage (for those aged under 25) will increase from:

• £7.05 to £7.38 for those between 21 to 24 years
• £5.60 to £5.90 for between 18 to 20 years
• £4.05 to £4.20 for 16 and 17 year olds
• £3.50 to £3.70 for apprentices.

It’s vital to monitor the age of your employees to ensure you are paying them the correct rate.

Statutory rates

The statutory weekly rates of pay for maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave will increase in April 2018 from £140.98 to £145.18.

The weekly rate of statutory sick pay will also rise from £89.35 to £92.05.

Gender pay reporting

Employers with 250 or more employees in England, Wales and Scotland are required to publish their first gender pay report by April 4.

Data protection

The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) will come into force on 25th May 2018. Although there are a number of loose ends, employers need to be prepared for the changes by updating policies and ensuring that staff are appropriately trained on data protection issues.

Employment status

We are waiting for the judgement of the Supreme Court in Pimlico Plumbers Ltd and another v Smith. The Court of Appeal ruled that their self-employed contractor was actually a worker and had the right to holiday pay and the national minimum wage.

This is of particular concerns to pharmacies who use locums, who have been regularly engaged over time on a self- employed basis.

Holiday pay

Just recently, the case of King v Sash Windows was put before the European Court of Justice and will be put before the UK Court of Appeal in 2018. It is worth keeping an eye on because it may have significant implications on the right to holiday pay, and the cost to pharmacies as a result. It has left questions for those who have been misclassified as self-employed when in fact they are a worker, and whether they can claim holiday pay for the whole period that they have worked for the pharmacy, without limitation.

Call the NPA employment law advisory service team on 0330 123 0558 or email employmentadvice@npa.co.uk for guidance.