All employers and workers are still being affected by Covid-19 in some way. Protecting people’s health and wellbeing should still be every employer’s key concern.

Many employers find staying up to date on the current COVID-19 guidelines challenging. This blog entry sets out the law and guidance on how to manage COVID-19 in the workplace, and any differences between the guidance for England and for Wales.

With clients from a wide range of sectors in England and Wales, Perspective HR has daily feedback on the issues and challenges facing anyone running an organisation.

For Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), where employees go off sick on or after 10 December 2021, employers can only ask employees for proof of sickness (such as a fit note) after 28 days of sickness (including non-working days). Proof of sickness cannot be requested earlier than 28 calendar days absence.

Here are some common mistakes employers make when paying the National Minimum Wage (NMW): Failing to pay the minimum wage following the annual increase: The new rates that take effect from April 2022 have already been confirmed. The rate for 16-17 year olds goes up to £4.81 an hour; 18-20 year olds will rise to £6.83 an hour and for 21-22 year olds it will rise to £9.18 an hour. The National Living Wage for workers aged 23 and over will be £9.50 an hour. Employers need to ensure that their payroll is prepared for the increases.

EU citizens working in the UK need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme for Settled Status to continue to work in the UK beyond 30 June 2021. This article details what obligations employers have to their EU employees and if they need to undertake any checks on existing employees from 1 July 2021.

This is a chance to learn from your peers in business – facilitated locally by Trevor Vanstone, of Perspective HR – and there is no cost to you as a business as this is fully funded by the Government and the Local Enterprise Partnership.

Following the budget last week, the Government have announced that Furlough will be extended beyond April until the end of September 2021, albeit the Government contributions are changing.

The following National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage increases are set to take effect from April 2021:

The overview of the scheme states: If you cannot maintain your workforce because your operations have been affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19), you can furlough employees and apply for a grant to cover a portion of their usual monthly wage costs where you record them as being on furlough.