Employment law updates commencing April 2024

In this article, employment solicitor Damian Kelly, provides updates to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and Statutory Pay for maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and parental bereavement.

In relation to discrimination claims in Employment Tribunals in England and Wales, there are also new updated rates for the valuation of “injury to feelings” (otherwise called “Vento Guidelines”).

National Minimum Wage

The National Minimum Wage is the minimum pay per hour almost all workers are entitled to by law. Below are the rates effective from Monday 1 April 2024. 

Category of worker

Hourly rate

Aged 21 and above (national living wage rate)

£11.44

Aged 18 to 20 inclusive

£8.60

Aged under 18 (but above compulsory school leaving age)

£6.40

Apprentices aged under 19

£6.40

Apprentices aged 19 and over, but in the first year of their apprenticeship

£6.40

New rates for Statutory Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared Parental and Parental Bereavement Pay & Statutory Sick Pay are also effective from 7th April 2024.

Type of payment or recovery

2024 to 2025 rate

Statutory Maternity Pay —
weekly rate for first 6 weeks

90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings

Statutory Maternity Pay —
weekly rate for remaining weeks

£184.03 or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings, whichever is lower

Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) —
weekly rate

£184.03 or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings, whichever is lower

Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) —
weekly rate for first 6 weeks

90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings

SAP —
weekly rate for remaining weeks

£184.03 or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings, whichever is lower

Statutory Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) — weekly rate

£184.03 or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings, whichever is lower

Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay (SPBP) — weekly rate

£184.03 or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings, whichever is lower

Vento Guidelines

Bands for “injury to feelings” in employment claims issued on or after 6th April 2024 are set out below:

  • A lower band of £1,200 to £11,700 (less serious cases);
  • A middle band of £11,700 to £35,200 (cases that do not merit an award in the upper band);
  • And an upper band of £35,200 to £58,700 (the most serious cases), with the most exceptional cases capable of exceeding £58,700.

Author: Damian Kelly, employment.