Three new pieces of employment law will come into force from 6 April 2012. Of most interest (and benefit) to small employers will be The Unfair Dismissal and Statement of Reasons for Dismissal (Variation of Qualifying Period) Order 2012, amendments to the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA). The amendments will require many employees to have [...]
Read morePost created on: February 17th, 2012
The Government has now launched its consultation on how to introduce fees for employment tribunals & the Employment Appeal Tribunal. There are two options put forward, and depending on which option is adopted will influence the likely timing of fees applying: Option 1 only requires secondary legislation, and could therefore be introduced in 2013, while [...]
Read morePost created on: December 15th, 2011
Employment Minister Chris Grayling has announced plans to cut back health and safety red tape in a move that he said would “root out needless bureaucracy”. The announcement follows a review carried out by Professor Lofstedt, published today by the DWP. The minister said: “From the beginning we said getting the regulation of health and [...]
Read morePost created on: November 28th, 2011
As envisaged following the Advocate General’s earlier opinion, in a ruling handed down today , the ECJ has confirmed that the Working Time Regulations – or more precisely, the Directive (2003/88) behind them – does not preclude national provisions or practices which limit the carry-over period of annual leave. Previous rulings of the ECJ have [...]
Read morePost created on: November 22nd, 2011
In a speech to the CBI this morning, David Cameron has put the case for “radical business deregulation”, including reforms to employment laws. These are intended to promote growth, but will also make it easier for businesses to hire & fire. “Look at What this Government is Doing” Without giving any new details on what [...]
Read morePost created on: November 21st, 2011