In the UK, many benefits are required for every employee. They provide for the employees’ life now and their future.
What follows is a brief look at the benefits that are required for every employee. It’s important to learn more than just this short blog shows you before hiring someone in your company, but this will give you something to work with.
Pension – Every employee must be offered a pension to contribute to.
By law, the total contribution must be at least 8% of ‘qualifying earnings’, which are defined in the regulations. The employer must contribute at least 3%, but many employers contribute much more since everyone has pensions as a benefit.
Setting up your UK pension scheme should be done by a professional to realize the maximum tax benefits and ensure you’re compliant with the legislation that governs these programs.
Healthcare – Plan
The NHS is paid for through taxes paid by the nation’s citizens, but this has become a popular benefit to cover the additional charges that might exist.
The National Health Service (NHS) covers everyone, but many employers are offering private health insurance over the NHS offerings due to wait times and some addition to what can be done with NHS coverage.
Sick Pay – to Employees
There are mandatory levels of sick pay for every employee in the UK. Most employers add to that to ensure that an employee has enough sick pay for when they really need it.
Every employer must offer sick pay to all of their employees. Employees get sick pay from the fourth qualifying day of the illness. Sick pay can continue up to 28 weeks. Many employers pay full pay for a period, then reduce the pay level. Some also offer even more sick pay or other benefits while on sick leave.
Very often, sick pay is paid at full wages for as long as 4 weeks, then the pay is reduced for an additional, supplemental period.
Maternity/Paternity Pay –
This is a broad category that can include everything from pregnancy and birth to adoption and parental leave. Now mothers are entitled to 52 weeks of leave, with 39 weeks paid.
Fathers get one to two weeks of paid leave. Parents who have adopted a new child also get 52 weeks’ leave, with 39 of those weeks paid. Parents can take up to 18 weeks of unpaid leave per child to care for a sick child.
Flexible Working – arrangements
After 26 weeks of continuous work, employees can request to work remotely or part time. Businesses must consider the request, but can balance the request against the needs of the business and must supply a good reason for rejecting it.
While these seem like burdens, they allow the UK to have a workforce that’s well cared for and healthy. Adding on other benefits is an excellent way for employers to stand out from their competitors in trying to hire new staff. At this time of the Great Resignation and Realignment, being an employer that offers excellent benefits can be the deciding factor for many potential employees.
How we can help
KG Accountants offers a variety of payroll services to our clients, Including Weekly, Monthly and Annual payrolls, setting up and managing staff pensions.
Hiring payroll providers can not only save big money but optimize your operations as well. Spend less time bean counting and more time focusing on growing your business!
Call us today on 0207 953 8913 or complete our enquiry form in order to book a FREE initial consultation.
Categories: Employment and related matters, Payroll, Staff Benefits
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