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In the Workplace

Minimum Wage Advice

Almost all UK workers have a legal right to a minimum level of pay, called the National Minimum Wage.

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) is a minimum amount per hour which most workers in the UK are entitled to be paid. With a few exceptions, it applies to all workers over the compulsory school leaving age. The rate is reviewed every year. Any changes take place in October.

All employers have to pay the NMW to workers who are eligible for it - there are no exceptions for different types or size of employer. Where you work in the UK makes no difference to the level of NMW you should receive.

There are different levels of NMW, which depend on your age. The rates from 1 October 2008 are:

• Adults (Age 22 and over) are entitled to £5.73 per hour
• Workers aged 18-21 are entitled to £4.77
• Young people are entitled to £3.53

For more information on Minimum Wage as well as advice on all aspects of employment, please visit www.direct.gov.uk

Working Time Regulations

Making you aware of the current working time regulations and what you are entitled to.

The Working Time Regulations 1998 is designed with your health and safety in mind. The following is a very brief summary of the regulations - if you have any further queries, please ask your local office for more details.

Working Hours

Under the terms of your contract you are not required to work any given hours. However, where you are working on assignments for JSS, under the Working Time Regulations 1998, you should not be required to work more than an average of 48 hours a week over a 17 week period, unless you agree to do so in writing. Although temporary or contract work is all about flexibility and from time to time companies may want you to work for longer hours, you are under no obligation to do so.

Rest Breaks

You are entitled to 11 hours rest from work in each 24 hours. The company to which you are assigned should allow you a break from work of 20 minutes, if your assignment lasts for more than 6 hours a day. If it is practical, you should take this away from your work station. You should make arrangements with the client about rest and lunch breaks.

Night Work

If you are asked to work at night (between 11pm and 6am) you should not work more than 8 hours in every 24, averaged over 17 weeks (or however many weeks you have worked if it is less than 17 weeks).

Weekly Rest

You are entitled to a minimum of 1 day's rest from work each week, or 2 days every 2 weeks.

Paid Annual Leave

You are entitled to paid annual leave under the Working Time Regulations Act 1998. As of the 1st April 2009, annual holiday entitlement is 28 days instead of 24 days. 'For the purposes of calculating entitlement to paid annual leave, your leave entitlement commences on the date that you start an assignment or series of assignments through JSS. Your leave accrues on a pro-rata basis.

You will only be entitled to take paid annual leave in proportion to what has accrued when you wish to take leave. Under the Act you may not carry holiday pay forward from one year to the next, nor can we pay you in lieu of holidays unless you finish working for us.

The holiday year runs from November 28th to the following November 27th

Maternity & Paternity

Keeping you up to date with the latest 'family friendly' advice and legislation.

When you are expecting a child you have a number of things to think about and knowing what time you are allowed off work can seem quite confusing. At JSS, we are here to make things clear and explain the latest legislation on maternity, paternity and adoption pay.

Maternity - What is it?

If you qualify you are entitled to a maximum of 39 weeks Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) paid at two rates: high rate SMP is paid for 6 weeks at a rate of 90% of your average weekly earnings. Low rate SMP is paid for 33 weeks at a rate set by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Do you qualify?

To qualify for SMP you must satisfy the following conditions:

• you must have been employed continuously for 26 weeks at the beginning of the Qualifying Week (the 15th week before your Expected Week of Childbirth/Confinement (EWC))
• your average weekly earning in the 8 weeks up to and including the Qualifying Week must be at least equal to the lower earnings limit for NI contributions
• you must provide a maternity certificate, a form MAT B1, showing the date the baby is due and provide notification to JSS by the 15th week before the EWC, unless this is not reasonably practicable
• you must have stopped attending for work wholly or partly because of pregnancy or childbirth

What do you get paid?

If a temporary worker is entitled to receive SMP, payment is made at the following rates:

• 6 weeks at 90% of salary
• 33 weeks at £117.18 per week

Paternity - What is it?

Employees are entitled to two weeks paid paternity leave subject to qualifying conditions, known as Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP). This is administered and paid by JSS on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions. Please be aware this entitlement is subject to change.

Do you qualify?

Paternity leave applies to employees who are both adopting a child or expecting the birth of a child.

You will need to satisfy the following conditions in order to qualify for Paternity Leave:

• have or expect to have responsibility for the child's upbringing
• be the biological father of the child or the mother's husband or partner
• have been employed continuously for 26 weeks by the 15th week before the baby is due

What do you get paid?

If you have been employed for at least 26 weeks at the 15th week before the EWC or by the week in which the approved adoption match is made, you are entitled one or two weeks paid Paternity Leave as you have chosen.

Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) is paid at a standard rate of £117.18 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings whichever is less.

Please contact one of our consultants for any further information.

Holiday Pay

We are responsible for recording and paying holiday pay to you as a temporary worker; as such you are employed by us.

From 1st April 2009, all temps are statutorily entitled to a maximum of 28 days holiday per annum pro-rated. This holiday entitlement is calculated as a mean average over the previous 12 weeks work.

• This method of payment is referred to as 'accrued' holiday pay.
• Your pay is effectively 'banked' and then held until you actually take the holiday due to you.
• You will be paid your holiday pay the week after you have taken the holiday - just as though it was an undertaken assignment.

This accrued method will also help you manage your holiday pay and ensures that when you take time off you have the comfort of knowing that funds will be available. Please do not record holiday on a timesheet.

How to book your holiday

To ensure that you are able to take the dates you want as holiday, and more importantly to receive payment for it - please request a Holiday Form from your consultant or download one here as soon as possible. This form must be completed, returned to JSS and authorised by your Temporaries Manager - your holiday is not confirmed until then!

You must give at least twice the amount of notice as the amount of holiday required - for example; if you would like to take three days holiday you must ensure that your holiday form has been authorised at least six days prior to the intended start date.

Click to download a Holiday Request form!