Changes to maternity and paternity pay
24 January 2012
Statutory maternity, paternity, additional paternity, adoption pay and maternity allowance will increase from £128.73 to £135.45 per week or 90% of normal weekly earnings if lower. The changes will take effect from 9 April 2012.
It is worth noting that there are various rules for employees to qualify for statutory maternity, paternity, additional paternity, adoption pay and maternity allowance, which Ochre can advise upon.
However, in relation to statutory maternity pay, it is also worth remembering that for your employees to qualify at all they must have been:
- employed by you continuously for at least 26 weeks before the 15th week before the week their baby is due (the qualifying week)
- earn on average an amount which at least equals the lower earnings limit (this is £102 currently and £107 from 06 April 2011) which applies on the Saturday at the end of their qualifying week
It is important that businesses comply with these changes. If failing to do so, employees could make a claim against for unlawful deduction from wages and/or breach of contract.
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