Latest Employment Law update
From 1 October 2006
Age Discrimination in employment is
outlawed
- Affects the whole of the employment cycle, from recruitment
through to retirement;
- Employees can claim Unfair Dismissal at any age;
- Compulsory Retirement Ages below 65 will need special
justification;
- Employees must be given at least six months' advance notice of
retirement (shorter notice periods apply until 1st April
2007);
- Employees will have the right to have a request not to retire
considered;
National Minimum Wage Increased
New Rates:
- £5.35 per hour (22+)
- £4.45 per hour (18-21)
- £3.30 per hour (16-17)
From 1 April 2007
Paid Maternity Leave extended from six to nine months for
employees with an expected week of childbirth on or after 1 April
2007:
- Paid Maternity and Adoption Leave extended from 26 to 39
weeks;
- Employees who qualify for Ordinary Maternity Leave
automatically qualify for Additional Maternity Leave;
- Improved provisions allowing the employer to make contact with
the employee during maternity leave;
- Longer notice periods are necessary from the employee if she
intends to return to work earlier than previously notified.
From 6 April 2007
Right to request flexible working extended to carers of
adults:
- Similar to existing Right to Request Flexible Working which
applies to parents of children aged under 6 or disabled children up
to 18;
- Applies to carers of adults over 18 who are related to the
employee or live in the same household;
- Does not apply to parents of children aged 6 or over unless
disabled.
Summer 2007
Smoking Ban expected to come into force in England and
Wales:
Smoking Ban already in force in Scotland;
- Proposal that all enclosed premises open to the public be
"smoke free";
- No exemption for "smoking rooms";
- Consultation on proposals closes on 9th October 2006.
1st October 2007
Minimum Paid holiday entitlement increases to 24 days:
- Minimum Paid Holiday entitlement increases to 4.8 weeks (24
days) for full-time employees;
- Part Time employees' holiday must increase pro rata;
- No new right to actually take time off on public holidays;
- Proposal to increase to 5.6 weeks' (28 days) by
2009.