A WORCESTERSHIRE lawyer is warning county businesses that a significant employment law shake up is taking place this year.

The changes to employment legislation will have a “significant impact” Sally Morris, a partner at Mfg Solicitors, said.

A move to close the gender pay gap, introduce an apprenticeship levy and further increases in the minimum wage are all on the horizon - with employers urged to make sure they are prepared.

Ms Morris, head of the firm’s employment and HR services division, described 2017 as a “game changing” 12 months.

Ms Morris said: “Clearly the biggest issue employers have is still Brexit but while the UK has voted to leave the EU, the government has not yet triggered Article 50.

“Aside from Brexit, however, we have a raft of game-changing amendments coming in. One key change is the gender pay gap which will see businesses with 250 or more employees having to publish gender pay gap information for the first time.

“That’s a big administrative headache, but it comes on top of new payroll rules coming in on April 6, which will also require larger employers with a payroll of over £3 million to pay a 0.5 per cent levy to fund a new generation of apprentices.”

Ms Morris added employers will need to be prepared for a rise in the National Living Wage from April 1 – with anyone aged 25 and over entitled to at least £7.50 an hour.

The changes for businesses will also see them needing to reconsider the schemes they offer, as many of the tax saving benefits are being abolished from April.

To support businesses, Ms Morris is running a February workshop next month which will look at some of the issues including gender pay reporting.

The event will take place on Thursday, February 16, from 9am, at the firm’s Kidderminster offices.

To book a place on the workshop email sally.morris@mfgsolicitors.com or call 01905 734032.