legal updates
Friday, 06 Apr 2007
employment law update
CCW's Legal Update 6th April 2007
As ever, April is a popular month for new employment legislation. This year is no exception and here are a few of the provisions that come into force this month:
1st April 2007 - Increase in maternity rights
Parents (natural or adoptive) of babies where the expected week of childbirth or date of placement falls on or after 1st April are now entitled to take a total of 52 weeks’ maternity leave and adoption leave regardless of length of service. The payment of Statutory Maternity Pay, Maternity Allowance and Statutory Adoption Pay has been extended from 26 weeks to 39 weeks, as has the period of notice an employee must give if they intend to change their return date. This is now 8 weeks. As well as this, employers and employees can agree up to 10 Keeping in Touch days, without an employee’s maternity pay being affected.
6th April 2007 - Flexible working extended
Carers of adults will be entitled to request flexible working hours in the same way as parents/guardians of young or disabled children currently can. With an estimated 5.7 million carers in the UK today, this could have a huge impact on employers. However, although the right to request has been extended, there are still many broad grounds on which such a request can be rejected. Employers should remember to follow the correct procedures and to consider all requests seriously and carefully.
1st April 2007 - Statutory rates increased
Statutory Sick Pay will be increased from £70.05 to £72.55 per week. Statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay will be increased from £108.85 to £112.75 per week.
1st April 2007 - Definition of religion and belief broadened in anti-discrimination law
The definition of “belief” has changed, extending the definition to cover political beliefs and it is expected to introduce a new wave of discrimination litigation. Employers should be beware of political banter in the workplace, as this could now amount to discrimination or harassment under the new legislation.
30th April 2007 - Discrimination laws extended for sexual orientation
The new regulations extend the scope of sexual orientation discrimination. Employers should consider their actions not only in relation to their employees, but also in relation to their customers, clients and facilities so as to be careful not to unwittingly discriminate.
Also, coming soon … Smoking ban in England (July), Statutory holiday entitlement increase from 20 to 24 days (October)