National living wage

Data shows nearly 60% of organisations will need to raise wages, with three-quarters expecting challenges around pay gaps between job levels.

Today’s Spring statement did much to add cost and regulation to employers, and not enough to support growth and skills, observers say.

Although the Employment Rights Bill is still making its way through parliament, there are a number of obligations coming into force this April.

National Pharmacy Association advises 6,000 member pharmacies to work to rule, if sufficient funding is not delivered by government.

The CIPD is urging the government to provide clarity for employers as new amendments to the Employment Rights Bill are unveiled.

Lidl is giving its 28,000 hourly-paid employees a pay rise from March 2025, ahead of the increase in the national living wage.

Marks and Spencer boss Stuart Machin repeats call on government to phase in increase to employers’ national insurance contributions (NICs).

Crawley Town FC, according to the Guardian, asked kitman to work 100 hours a week for no extra pay.

Concerns around an increase in employer taxes have contributed to a record jump in the number of UK businesses in financial distress.

The cost of employing low-wage workers will hit a record high in 2025, according to analysis by the Centre for Policy Studies.

A new report from the Low Pay Commission (LPC) estimates that around 371,000 people were underpaid in April 2024.

The UK rate of inflation has hit its highest level in eight months, rising to 2.6% in the year to November.

UK pay rises remained stagnant in the third quarter of this year, plateauing at 4%, according to data from Brightmine.

More sectors warn of the threat to business following the chancellor’s budget increase to employers’ costs.

Uncertainty around Budget accelerates long-running negative trend in recruitment activity as businesses put hiring plans on hold.