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Experts at a Dorset law firm have advised on new increases to statutory pay rates.

Ellis Jones Solicitors, with more than 170 staff in six offices, is reminding employers to ensure policies are refreshed, payrolls updated and staff informed. This comes as increases are put into force across maternity, paternity, adoption, parental bereavement and sick pay rates as well as changes to the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage.

Partner Kate Brooks, head of employment/HR services, said: “It is important to make sure that these type of pay rate increases don’t slip through the cracks.

“The latest rises are an increase of 10% on 2022/2023 in many cases and represent not insignificant sums for employers or employees. There may be other factors to take into account which complicate the picture and need to be considered, such as timescales and average earnings, especially at larger firms with sizeable payrolls.”

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Under the changes statutory maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and parental bereavement pay are now £172.48 per week – up from £156.66 – although there are differing provisions for the various schemes.

The weekly rate of statutory sick pay (SSP) is now £109.40, up from £99.35. The weekly earnings threshold for a worker to be eligible for the statutory parental pay rates or statutory sick pay remain the same, at £123 per week.

Ms Brooks added: “Statutory pay rates can be a minefield. Clearly employees will be unhappy if they miss out, while in some cases, such as for minimum wages, non-compliance is a criminal offence.