As we move into 2025, it’s time to look at the employment law updates that could impact your business. From changes in wages to new employee rights, staying ahead of these changes ensures you’re not only compliant but also supporting your team in the best way possible.
Here’s a quick look at some of the most important updates across the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, plus key changes in other parts of the world.
Please note, every effort has been made to ensure these details are accurate but as usual, you should check with your local authorities for details.
USA: Key Focus on Ensuring Workers are Paid Fairly
Federal Updates:
- Wage Theft Laws: As of January, stricter penalties will hold employers accountable for unpaid wages, including overtime and minimum wage violations. If wage theft hasn’t been on your radar yet, now’s the time to make sure you’re fully compliant.
State-Specific Changes You Should Know:
- Alaska: Minimum wage increases to $11.91 per hour, with adjustments for inflation. The weekly salary for overtime-exempt employees also rises to $952.80.
- Delaware: Minimum wage jumps to $15.00 per hour, and employers will need to start contributing to the state’s paid family and medical leave program.
- Illinois: Pay transparency becomes a must, companies with 15+ employees will need to include pay scales and benefits in job postings.
- Missouri: Paid sick leave becomes mandatory in May, and employees will be able to accrue up to 56 hours annually, depending on company size. The minimum wage also increases to $13.75 per hour.
- New Jersey: Starting in June, employers with 10 or more employees must include salary ranges and benefits in job postings.
- New York: Minimum wage rises to $16.50 per hour in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County. Other regions will see increases to $15.50 per hour, and overtime-exempt salary thresholds will also go up.
UK: Big Changes for Worker’s Rights
In the UK, the Employment Rights Bill is introducing some key updates. Here’s what’s on the way:
- Zero-Hours Contracts: Workers can expect more predictable schedules and income stability.
- Day-One Rights: New protections against unfair dismissal and flexible working requests start from the first day of employment.
- Fire and Rehire: Employers will face tighter restrictions on dismissing employees to rehire them under less favorable conditions.
Some changes are already in motion, with full implementation expected to roll out through 2026 and beyond.
Australia: Prioritizing Work-Life Balance and Safety
- Right to Disconnect: Employers with 15+ employees must allow workers to ignore work-related communications outside of business hours. Small businesses have until August 2025 to comply.
- Safer Workplaces: Starting in January, employers must take active steps to address and eliminate sexual harassment, discrimination, and hostile work environments. This isn’t just a suggestion, it’s now a legal requirement.
- Wage Theft Laws: Deliberately underpaying wages is now a criminal offense in Australia, so make sure your payroll systems are in line with the latest rules.
What’s Happening Globally?
Canada:
Ontario is introducing pay transparency rules, requiring salary ranges in job postings to promote pay equity. Expect this to roll out in more provinces through 2025.
South Africa:
The Employment Equity Amendment Act is introducing sectoral targets for designated groups, improving compliance and promoting fair treatment in the workplace.
Brazil:
Companies must now track the time worked by remote employees, and remote work arrangements can now be extended to interns and apprentices.
The Netherlands:
Small companies will need to implement profit-sharing schemes from January 1, 2025, to help improve employee engagement and share in the company’s success.
New Zealand:
The Employment Relations Amendment Act focuses on flexible work arrangements, diversity, mental health support, and streamlined redundancy processes.
Singapore:
Though not yet mandatory, Singapore is encouraging employers to formally adopt flexible work practices. Keep an eye out for potential legislative updates.
Ireland:
Under the Pathways to Work Strategy, jobseekers will need to actively engage with public employment services, and employers hiring jobseekers will receive subsidies.
How HR Partner Can Help You Stay Ahead
HR Partner is built for small and medium-sized businesses, especially those with globally distributed workforce or remote teams. We help you stay on top of HR admin so you can focus on what matters most – your people.
Here’s how we can make things easier for you:
- Leave Management: Easily automate and track parental leave, sick days, vacation time, and more
- Salary Transparency: With HR Partner, you can seamlessly add salary ranges and benefits to job descriptions, helping you stay compliant with new transparency laws.
- Time Tracking: Simplify timekeeping for both remote and in-office employees, whether you’re meeting Brazil’s new remote work rules or just streamlining your processes.
- Policy & Document Management: Keep all your important policies, contracts, and documents in one place – making updates simple.
- eSignatures: Handle employment contracts and other key documents with eSignatures – no need for paper.
By bringing all these tasks into one platform, HR Partner makes compliance easier, so you can focus on the more strategic (and fun!) sides of human resources and people management.
What These Changes Mean for Your Business
We know staying on top of employment law changes can be tough. Here are a few ways to make it easier:
- Stay Informed: Bookmark trusted HR and legal resources for regular updates.
- Update Policies: Ensure your employee handbook and HR systems reflect these changes.
- Train Your Team: Help your HR staff and managers stay compliant by equipping them with the knowledge they need.
At HR Partner, we’re here to make HR admin simpler. From tracking updates to managing your employee docs, our tools are designed to help businesses like yours.
Book a demo today to see how we can make your HR tasks easier!
Moving from messy spreadsheets to an automated HR system doesn’t just save you time, it gives you peace of mind. Employment laws are always changing, but with HR Partner, you’ll have everything you need to manage your workforce confidently in 2025 and beyond.