Key announcements from the government form the backbone of our coverage in this issue.

We look in detail at the implications of the Budget for HR practitioners. Changes to income tax and national insurance contributions that will affect employees' take-home pay will be of particular interest. Will those losing out in the new regime be looking to recoup some of their losses in their annual pay review?

Details are provided below of a number of statutory rates that will increase from 6 April 2008, including maternity, paternity and adoption pay.

This issue also contains a report on the new national minimum wage rates, including the recommendations put forward by the Low Pay Commission (LPC). Set against a worsening global economic outlook, the LPC exercised "a degree of caution" in recommending a 3.8% increase to the adult rate, due to come into effect from October 2008.

Other top stories in this issue include:

• Gender pay gap has narrowed by more than a quarter in past decade
• HR salaries rise by 5.4%
• How important is pay in motivating employees?

In our next newsletter (25 April), we will take our first look at the level of pay awards in April 2008. If you haven't done so already, please complete our short online survey to provide details of your organisation's latest pay award.

Sheila Attwood,
Editor,
Pay and Benefits Bulletin

Pay reports recently added to the site:

Environmental engineers: new two-year deal

Scottish teachers: new three-year deal agreed

Thermal insulation industry: 7% increase to rates

Pay review update: 11 April 2008

The latest pay review update table contains pay settlements at Komatsu, First Direct, the prison service and many more.

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Statistics and forecasts

The datafile contains the most recent inflation, earnings and labour market statistics, pay settlement data and inflation and earnings forecasts. Our panel of City and academic forecasters expects headline inflation to fall gradually from an average 3.9% in the first quarter of the year to 2.7% by the end of the year. Average earnings growth is expected to remain in the region of 4% over the remainder of 2008.

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From the blog

Launched and run by the editorial team that produces XpertHR and the IRS e-journals, the Employment Intelligence blog is regularly updated with news, comment and links to the latest employment developments. Recent posts include:

• Something to remember in the inflation shopping basket
  
• Pay awards continue to lag behind inflation
  
• Tips on the national minimum wage
  
• Recruitment gets internet makeover

Today's tip: Find pay data for your sector

Do you need to benchmark your pay and benefits package against other organisations in your sector? Click on pay and benefits data by sector to locate your business sector, from chemicals and pharmaceuticals to transport and communication. All the latest news and data for your sector is then at your fingertips.

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