Employment Legislation: What's In The Pipeline?
10 March 2009
Area
Legislation
Details
Date
Holiday entitlement
Working Time (Amendment) Regulations 2007
The statutory minimum holiday entitlement will increase to 28 days or 5.6 weeks per year, applicable in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The increase is in two phases. The first increase of an extra 4 days leave took place with effect from 1 October 2007, and a further 4 days leave will come into force from 1 April 2009.
This will only affect employers who currently give the statutory minimum holiday entitlement.
1 October 2007 and 1 April 2009
Employment law changes
Employment Bill
• Repeals the statutory dismissal and disciplinary procedures but employers will be obliged to follow a new ACAS Code of Practice.
• Provides for increased enforcement of the National Minimum Wage.
• Clearer rights for trade unions to determine their membership.April 2009
Flexible working
Flexible Working (Eligibility, Complaints and Remedies) Regulations 2002
The right to apply for flexible working is likely to be introduced for parents of children up to 16 years.
April 2009
Discrimination
Equality Bill
The aims of the bill are to:
• Consolidate existing discrimination law.
• Introduce positive action on recruitment for under-represented groups.
• Make it unlawful to prevent employees from discussing their pay.
• Introduce wider powers for employment tribunals to make recommendations in discrimination claims.
• Create a single equality duty on public sector employers to include duties in relation to:gender reassignment, age, sexual orientation and religion or belief.
• Extend age discrimination law to the provision of goods and services.April 2009
For further information or advice on Employment matters please contact Justine Watkinson
Head of Employment on jw@law.uk.com or call 01244 318131.
