As mentioned in a previous email newsletter the new age discrimination laws commence on 1st October 2006. One consequence is a change the rules of entitlement for statutory sick pay, with all employees irrespective of age being entitled to SSP.

In addition, if any employee goes off sick after 1st October they must be treated as sick from the first day of illness, even when this period of sick leave is within 8 weeks after a previous period of sickness ending before the 1st October – all periods before that date are ignored completely for the purpose of the new SSP rules.

If you have any questions on the changes to statutory sick pay please email Cheryl@stephen-hill.co.uk

Online postage service launched.

Royal mail have launched a new free scheme allowing people to purchase their postage stamps online.

Each item of mail will be given a barcode that can be printed off straight onto the envelope and then regular mail can be posted as normal in a post box, however recorded and special delivery items must still be taken to the Post Office.

The new service is available 24 a day and aims to reduce queues in the post office.

To view the full article on the new scheme launched by Royal Mail please go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/1

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John F. Kennedy