Employment statistics

CPI inflation 5.2%
RPI inflation 5.6%
Unemployment rate 8.1%

Legal statistics

Statutory pay (rates are reviewed each April)

Maternity/adoption pay:
- SMP/SAP is paid for 39 weeks
- Pay rate for first six weeks of SMP: 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings
- SMP/SAP remaining weeks: £128.73 or 90% of average earnings, whichever is less
- Qualifying conditions: related to earnings level, length of service, time limits for notification, and medical evidence of pregnancy/documentary evidence of matching for adoption

Ordinary Paternity/partner’s pay:
- SPP is paid for two weeks
- Pay rate: £128.73 (from April 2011) or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is less
- Qualifying conditions: related to earnings level, length of service, time limits for notification, and signed declaration of commitment

Additional statutory paternity/partner’s pay (for births/adoption matches on or after 3 April 2011)
– APP is paid for a maximum of 26 weeks
– Pay rate: £128.73 (from April 2011) or 90% of average weekly earnings whichever is less
–
Qualifying conditions: related to length of service, time limits for notification, signed declaration of commitment, and mother/adopter having returned to work with leave remaining

Sick pay: £81.60 a week

Redundancy pay (new rates below from February 2011)
Pay rate:
- 0.5 week’s pay for each year of service for employees aged under 22 (a week’s pay is £400)
- 1 week’s pay for each year of service for employees between the ages of 22 and 40
- 1.5 weeks’ pay for each year of service for employees aged 41 and older

National minimum wage (Rates and banding came into effect from 1 October 2010)
Hourly pay rate:
- £6.08 for 21 years and older
- £4.98 for 18-20 years
- £3.68 for 16-17 years
- New apprentice rate: £2.50 aged 19 and under, or in first year

Tribunal compensation limits (new rates below from February 2011)
Limits on pay: 1 day £22.20, 1 week £400
Unfair dismissal: compensatory award £68,400
Breach of contract: maximum award £25,000


Useful links:
UK national statistics
HM Revenue & Customs
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)

These statistics are updated regularly and were correct as of 24 October 2011.

Keep up-to-date with all the changes in employment law by using our legislative timetable.