Beware of significant employment law changes

By Linder Myers

02 Oct 2014

Changes to employment law, including increased parental rights, greater scrutiny concerning equal pay in the workplace and a rise in the national minimum wage came into force today, 1st October, advise specialists at Linder Myers Solicitors.

As part of wider legal changes to support families, from the 1st October husbands, civil partners or partners of pregnant women will be entitled to unpaid leave to attend up to two ante-natal appointments.

Significantly, further rights will be afforded to parents from 1st December when both parties will be able to choose how they want to share the care and parental leave during their child’s first year (this only applies to children whose expected week of birth begins on, or after, 5th April 2015 or those placed for adoption on, or after, this date).

Under the new rules, mothers will still take a minimum of the initial two weeks off, but will have the option to end their maternity absence after this period in order to share the remaining leave as flexible working parental leave.

Another crucial change for employers to be aware of is that Tribunals have been given greater powers and can now order businesses identified as being in breach of their equal pay obligations to carry out internal audits. The results of these, which have to identify any differences in pay between male and female employees, and significantly, the reasons for the disparity, will have to be published on the employer’s website and remain there for a minimum of three years.

David Southern, employment specialist at Linder Myers Solicitors in Preston commented: “Employment law is constantly changing and it is critical for business owners to remain diligent to ensure legal compliance. I would draw business owners’ attention particularly to new equal pay rules. If they are found to be in breach of these, the penalty of publishing the results of an audit on their company website will at the very least prove detrimental to their reputation amongst competitors, clients, existing and future employees.

“We recommend an annual health check of employment contracts and internal policies not only as a box ticking exercise but more importantly, to arm business owners with the tools to protect their commercial interests both today and in the future.” A further change for employers to be aware of is the increase in the national minimum wage. The standard adult wage has risen from £6.31 to £6.50 per hour; 18 – 20 year olds should now be paid at least £5.13 per hour (an increase of 10 pence); pay for 16 – 17 year olds has risen by seven pence per hour to £3.79 while apprentices are now entitled to £2.73 per hour, a rise from £2.68.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Linder Myers

Latest news

1

Morecambe shortlisted in National Visa Awards celebrating the UK’s thriving towns David Waddington and John O'Neill

Morecambe shortlisted in National Visa Awards celebrating the UK’s thriving towns

04 Jul 2025

2

County council sets out 'areas of focus for 2025-26 in document Coun Stephen Atkinson

County council sets out 'areas of focus for 2025-26 in document

04 Jul 2025

3

Warden Construction completes project to help Preston school double pupil numbers Warden Construction completes project to help Preston school double pupil numbers

Warden Construction completes project to help Preston school double pupil numbers

04 Jul 2025

4

Grant Thornton advises RJ Power Networks on sale to Ipsum Jamie Roberts

Grant Thornton advises RJ Power Networks on sale to Ipsum

04 Jul 2025

5

College principal resigns Karen Buchanan

College principal resigns

04 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase
unnamed (2).jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Jul 2025 - 09 Jul 2025

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase

Crow Wood Hotel, Burnley, BB12 0RT

09:30 - 16:00

Blackburn Cathedral hosts Champagne and Diamonds Event with Ainsworth Jewellers
Champagne-Jewellery 10 07 25_page-0001.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
10 Jul 2025 - 10 Jul 2025

Blackburn Cathedral hosts Champagne and Diamonds Event with Ainsworth Jewellers

Blackburn Cathedral, Blackburn, BB1 5AA

18:00 - 20:30

Choose Chorley for Business - Talent Reimagined Business Breakfast
talentreimaginedbb.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Jul 2025 - 10 Jul 2025

Choose Chorley for Business - Talent Reimagined Business Breakfast

Strawberry Fields Digital Hub, Chorley, PR71PS

08:00 - 10:30

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past
1750160034867.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Jul 2025 - 16 Jul 2025

Shaping Preston's future by remembering its past

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:30

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin