Employment law reform crib sheet

Over the last month, the government has unleashed a number of measures to reform the employment law system today.

To keep on top of the changes, here’s a round-up of the announcements:

• Employment tribunals: changes to the outdated system. Employees will need to have worked for you for two years before bringing a claim of unfair dismissal; all claims will have to be lodged with ACAS before going to tribunal; introducing a fee for lodging a claim.
• Employer’s Charter: list of what you can/can’t do, as an employer. Handy list of tips dispelling the myths surrounding employment law, worth a read.
• Default retirement age: scrapped. Employers will no longer have powers to force employees aged 65+ to retire. (But note that you’ve got until April 6, 2011 to issue any notices of compulsory retirement.)
• Parental leave: changes to paternity leave allowance. Fathers will be allowed to take up any remaining unpaid leave if their partners go back to work early.

Employment law has been a much-hated area for most employers – not only are the rules complex, but they change often, and the price of getting it wrong can be very high.

We’ll be looking at these changes in more detail, but do let us know what you think of them in the comments’ box below.

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