Latest News

News

July
• 29th - Default Retirement Age to be Scrapped
  the Government has announced that the default retirement age (DRA) will be scrapped on 1st October 2011   More...
• 22nd - Pre-employment health questionnaires to stop
  The new Equality Act, which comes into force in October will prohibit employers from asking candidates pre-employment health questions   More...
• 13th - Tribunal claims at highest level ever
  The Tribunals Service statistics for 2009/10 show that the number of claims received by employment tribunals rose by 56% on 2008/09 - the highest level ever   More...
• 2nd - Vetting & Barring Scheme on hold
  The Government has put the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) registration process on hold pending further review   More...

June
• 3rd - New company car advisory fuel rates
  HMRC has announced new advisory fuel rates that can be used by employers paying employees a business mileage when driving an employer owned car   More...

April
• 2nd - Minimum Wage Increase – October 2010
  Minimum wage rates set to increase in October 2010 and a new wage rate will be established for apprentices   More...

February
• 1st - Agency Workers Directive
  The Governemnt has delayed the AWD until October 2011   More...

January
• 21st - Paternity Leave to be Extended
  Fathers to benefit from up to 26 weeks' additional paternity leave from April 2011   More...
• 21st - Time off for Training
  Employees to be provided with the statutory right to request time off work for training   More...
• 21st - GP Medical Certificates to Change
  Sick Notes to be replaced by Fit Notes from April 2010   More...
• 19th - Maternity, Paternity & Adoption Pay to Increase
  Statutory maternity, paternity pay and adoption pay to increase to £124.88 per week in April   More...
• 19th - SSP Unchanged
  SSP will not be increased this April. The weekly rate remains as £79.15 per week   More...
• 12th - Unfair Dismissal – Compensatory Award Decrease
  The maximum compensatory award for unfair dismissal decreases from £66,200 to £65,300 from 1st February 2010   More...

October
• 2nd - Default retirement age to stay (for the time being)
  On 25th September, the High Court ruled that the UK's default retirement age (DRA) was justified but the Government has brought forward its review of the DRA to 2010   More...

August
• 20th - Long Term Sickness & Holiday Pay
  The EJC has ruled that the right to paid annual leave continues to accrue during sick leave   More...
• 17th - Right to Request Time off Work for Training
  The Government is pressing ahead with its plans to provide employees with the right to request time off work for training   More...
• 10th - Extended Statutory Maternity Pay Suspended
  The Government has suspended its plans to increase Statutory Maternity Pay   More...

June
• 30th - 48 Hour Opt Out to Remain
  With no agreement reached on the issue of Britain's ability to opt out of the 48 hour week, employees will be able to continue to work more than this limit if they choose to do so   More...
• 1st - New Equality Bill Published
  The Government has published the new Equality Bill which is expected to come into force in October 2010   More...

May
• 27th - Minimum Wage Rates to Increase
  Minimum Wage Rates set to increase in October   More...

April
• 29th - Worker Registration Scheme to be Extended
  The Government announced an extension of the Worker Registration Scheme until April 2011   More...
• 24th - Redundancy Pay set to Increase
  Budget announcement - Redundancy pay set to increase   More...
• 2nd - TUPE Regulations Amended
  Following repeal of the statutory dispute resolution procedures, The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (Amendment) Regulations that come into force on 6th April   More...

January
• 21st - Right to request flexible working to be extended
  - the Government has confirmed that the right to request flexible working will be extended in April 2009 to parents of children up to the age of 16   More...
• 21st - Maternity pay rate to increase
  - the standard rate of SMP is to increase to £123.06 in April   More...
• 21st - Paternity & Adoption pay rates to increase
  - the weekly rate is to increase to £123.06 in April   More...
• 21st - Statutory Sick Pay Rate to Increase
  - increases to £79.15 per week in April   More...

December
• 15th - Unfair Dismissal Costs to Increase
  - the maximum compensatory award for unfair dismissal rises to £66,200 on 1st Feb 2009   More...
• 10th - Personal Accounts Pension Scheme Outlined
  - the Pensions Act 2008 provides for compulsory employer contributions into pension schemes from April 2012   More...
• 10th - New ACAS Code on Disciplinary & Grievance Procedures
  - the revised ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures has been published and come into force on 6th April 2009   More...

October
• 1st - Compulsory Retirement Age Challenged
  – Advocate General rejects key argument in the Heyday case   More...
• 1st - Fixed-term Employees - Regulation Change
  Change to Fixed Term Worker Rights – agency workers on contracts of less than 3 months are now entitled to Statutory Sick Pay.   More...
• 1st - Maternity Leave Regulations Change
  – new regulations remove the distinction between the rights of employees on ordinary and additional maternity leave on 5th Oct 2008   More...