Autumn Statement 2016: Changes will see staff pay for salary sacrifice workplace perks

Rules regarding salary sacrifice employee benefits such as health checks, gym memberships, and mobile phone contracts are set to be tightened in the upcoming Autumn Statement, The Sunday Telegraph has learned.

The potential change means that staff nationwide will have to pay if they wish to carry on receiving workplace perks. The Sunday Telegraph estimates that those affected will have to pay £140 more a year for a phone contract and £240 for health checks.

Major firms, in response to the news, have warned the Government that they will be forced to scale back free medical checks for staff, undermining attempts to keep the country healthy.

However, the Treasury says the increase of salary sacrifice schemes is costing too much in lost income tax and National Insurance, as workers who receive such perks do not pay income tax on them, while their employer does not pay National Insurance.