A Jersey HR consultant has warned that the States of Jersey approved employment regulation changes will have a major impact for some employers and employees in Jersey.
The recommendations from the Employment Forum, have been accepted following a period of consultation, to increase annual leave entitlements for staff and give a statutory right to daily rest breaks. This will come into effect almost immediately, on January 1st, 2022.
The statutory entitlement to annual leave will increase from two weeks to three weeks (10 days to 15 days full time). Every worker will also have an entitlement to a 15 minute rest break in any period worked of 6 hours or more. This break can be paid or unpaid at the employer’s discretion.
Becky Hill, Director, HR Now said that while many organisations may already have enhanced holiday entitlements and rest breaks within their employment contracts, others, particularly smaller businesses, have tended to follow current legislation. ‘These arrangements are due to come into effect in two months and while the draft legislation states, “there are no financial or manpower implications arising from these draft Regulations”, undoubtedly some organisations will have a different perspective. For some, there will be additional costs per employee that will need to be included in budgets.’
Employers who are affected may need to consider a range of factors, said Becky. It may be necessary to review workforce plans including shift and rostering arrangements, and the administration of annual leave and scheduling of rest breaks and timesheet recording, to always enable effective and safe staffing levels. The application of 4% to hourly rates to reflect statutory holiday entitlement for those working on zero hours contracts will obviously have to be revisited. Plus, contracts, handbooks and policies might no longer be fit for purpose.
