Employment Law Update (January 2010)
Changes on the agenda for 2010
With the arrival of 2010, take a little time to check you're up
to date on the employment measures scheduled to come into force in
the next year or so.
Of course, there is bound to be a general election before summer
and this could result in a change of Government. Whether or not
there is a change of Government, new policies are likely to be
announced which affect employers and employees. Here at Mentor,
we'll do all we can to keep you up to date with what's likely to be
on the agenda.
Below is a summary of what's planned so far.
|
Date
|
Event
|
Summary
|
|
2010
|
|
April
|
"Fit Note" to replace "Sick Note"
|
From April, GPs will use a new form of sick note when certifying
sickness.
An additional, third, category of "Fit for some work" is to be
introduced, to encourage employers and employees to consider return
to work on a limited or gradual basis.
|
|
April
|
Right to request "Time off for Training" commences
|
Employees will have a new right to request reasonable unpaid
time off for relevant training.
Employers will have the right to refuse such requests and will
have no obligation to pay for or subsidise the training.
|
|
April
|
Statutory Maternity, Paternity, Adoption and Sick Pay
increase.
|
New rates are yet to be announced.
|
|
Spring
|
Equality Bill becomes law
|
The Equality Bill will bring together all existing
anti-discrimination laws. It will also place greater duties on
employers to take steps to actively achieve equality for minorities
and women in the workplace.
|
|
July
|
Vetting and Barring database goes "live"
|
From Summer, the next stage of the Vetting and Barring Scheme
will be implemented in England and Wales. The online database is
scheduled to be up and running by July with compulsory registration
of new employees working in "regulated activities" by November.
The dates for the equivalent scheme in Scotland have yet to be
announced.
|
|
1st October
|
National Minimum Wage increases
|
New rates are yet to be announced.
|
|
1st October
|
21 year olds must be paid the "adult" rate of the National
Minimum Wage
|
|
|
2011
|
|
3rd April 2011
|
Mothers will be able to transfer some unused maternity leave
entitlement to fathers
|
|
|
October 2011
|
Agency workers to get new rights
|
Agency workers will be entitled to equivalent pay and benefits
as permanent staff after 12 weeks' service.
|