Employers should take action now to ensure they comply with employment law changes coming into force in April 2020.

A key change is that from 6 April the requirement for employers to provide a written statement of terms of employment will apply to all workers (not just employees) and however short their period of work.

Neither needs a month’s service before they are entitled to such a statement, and it must be provided on day one rather than during the first two months of work.

The statement must also include additional information such as:

• weekly days and hours to be worked;
• details of entitlement to non-sickness related paid leave (eg maternity leave);
• mandatory training to be provided by the employer and mandatory training to be paid for by the employee;
• probationary period details; and
• details of any benefit not mentioned elsewhere in the statement.

Certain other information can still be provided within two months, such as information about pensions, training, disciplinary and grievance matters, and collective bargaining.

Other changes include the following:

• Employed parents will be entitled to two weeks’ leave if they lose a child under 18.
• Payments of more than £30,000 to compensate employees for termination of employment will be subject to Class 1A National Insurance, as well as income tax.
• Employers will be responsible for determining if IR35 applies.