Citizens Advice Bureaux have reported an increasing number of cases of employees coming to them for help after being denied their rights by employers.
Employment law is a complex area and business owners are being urged to make sure they act within the regulations and ensure their employees are aware of their rights.
According to reports, there are three main areas of enquiry:
- the national minimum wage,
- the right to receive itemised pay slips,
- written statements of terms and conditions of employment,
all of which are statutory rights for employees.
The national minimum wage is currently £6.31 for workers aged over 21, £5.03 an hour for 18-20 year-olds, £3.72 for anyone aged 16 and 17, and £2.68 at apprenticeships rate.
By law, all employees must receive a written statement of their terms and conditions of employment after two months of working. This is the employment right that employers fail to meet the most.
Employers need to ensure that their businesses are operating in accordance with employment laws in time for April 2014. From this date forward, if an employer is taken to an employment tribunal by an employee and loses, the employment tribunal will have the power to order them to pay a financial penalty up to a maximum of £5,000 (minimum £100) as well as the financial award to the claimant.
At Palmers, our employment law experts can assist you with our white-branded HR package, which includes standard forms of contracts of employment, staff handbooks and disciplinary and grievance policies amongst its range of documents, all of which are updated by us on a regular basis.
For more information, Please visit our website or contact Lara Murray.