A number of government departments issue their changes to regulations twice a year, on the common commencement dates (CCDs) 6 April and 1 October.

 

This October, the biggest incoming change is the Equality Act, which will affect all businesses that employ people and/or provide a product or service to the public.

 

New businesses exempt from National Insurance contributions

 

 

The Government will launch a new scheme through which new businesses outside of London, the South East and the East can get a significant reduction in their employer National Insurance contributions (NICs).

During a three year qualifying period, new businesses which start up in these areas will not have to pay the first £5,000 of Class 1 employer NICs due in the first 12 months (52 weeks) of employment, providing they fall within the qualifying period.

Find out more about the NICs holiday for new businesses.

 

Equality Act introduced

 

 

The Equality Act 2010 brings together existing legislation on discrimination and equality into a single piece of legislation. There are a number of new provisions included in it which all employers should be aware of, including third party harassment, positive action provisions, pay secrecy and changes to disability discrimination.

 

Find out more about key employment law changes included in the Equality Act. 

 

Increase of National Minimum Wage

 

National Minimum Wage rates will rise with the higher rate raising to £5.93 an hour. This higher rate will now apply to workers aged 21 and over. Plus a new minimum wage for apprentices has been introduced for the first time.

 

Find out more about new National Minimum Wage rates for 2010.

 

Small Business Rate Relief increase

 

 

Small Business Rate Relief is set to increase from October 2010, which could mean big savings for small business. This means that between 1 October 2010 and 30 September 2011, eligible ratepayers will receive Small Business Rate Relief at 100 per cent on properties up to £6,000 (rather than 50 per cent).

 

A tapering relief from 100 per cent to 0 per cent will also be in place for properties over £6,000 and up to £12,000 in rateable value for that period.

 

Find out more about the increase in Small Business Rate Relief. 

 

Conduct of recruitment agencies

 

From 1 October 2010, the rules in relation to recruitment agencies will change:

• They will no longer be able to take up-front fees from photographic and fashion models for providing them with work-finding services.
• Cooling-off periods after concluding a contract with an actor, background artist, dancer, extra, musician, singer or other performer before charging them a fee for working-finding services will be extended from seven to 30 days.
• They must let a work-seeker know if they intend to include information about them in a publication and the work-seeker must approve it before it is published. The work-seeker will have seven days from being shown the information to object.
• They will no longer be required to carry out employment checks on individuals seeking permanent employment with employers - unless they will be working with vulnerable people.
• They will no longer have to agree terms and conditions of employment with such individuals or the client employer, unless they are charging a fee for this service or placing them in the modelling or entertainment sectors.
• They will not have to state in a job advertisement whether they are acting as an employment agency, but will instead have to state whether a position is temporary or permanent.

Building Regulations

Construction businesses will have to comply with changes to Parts F, J and L of the Building Regulations 2000. There will also be a new requirement to notify local authorities of CO2 emission rate calculations for newly erected dwellings.

 

For more information or advice on implementing regulation changes, call our member helpline on 0845 130 1722.