Looking forward to the New Year – Employment Law developments expected in 2011
Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 5:16PM Last week we looked at some of the major changes in employment law over the last year. This week we look forward for a glimpse of what 2011 has in store, and it looks to be another busy year for employment lawyers!
1 February 2011 – Increase in Tribunal awards
The limits applying to tribunal awards and other amounts payable under employment legislation will increase for effective dates on or after 1 February 2011. The maximum amount of a 'week's pay' will increase from £380 to £400 and the maximum compensatory award for unfair dismissal from £65,300 to £68,400.
31 March 2011 – Retirement of the Default Retirement Age
The last date on which employers can give the minimum six months' notice of their intention to retire employees under the default retirement age is the 30 September.
April 2011 - The Bribery Act 2010
A major change in 2011 is the introduction of the Bribery Act 2010. The Bill received Royal Assent on 8 April 2010 and the Act will introduce new criminal offences. The most important thing for employers is the offence of failing to prevent bribery, employers need to make sure they have an adequate procedure in place to deal with this.
April 2011 - Additional paternity leave and pay
These provisions apply to parents of babies born (and adoptive parents notified of a match) on or after 3 April 2011, increasing potential leave for fathers to six months.
April 2011 - Flexible working
The right to request flexible working will be extended to all parents with children under 18.
April 2011 - Immigration
New measures to control the number of migrants that can come to the UK from outside Europe will come into force including an annual limit of 20,700 on those coming to the UK under Tier 2 (general) and abolishing the existing Tier 1 (general) category and replacing it with a new Tier 1 (exceptional talent) category which will be limited to 1,000 people.
April 2011 - Rate increases
Weekly rates of statutory maternity, paternity and adoption leave pay will increase from £124.88 to £128.73 and the rate of statutory sick pay will increase from £79.15 to £81.60.
April 2011 - Time off for training
May be extended to all employees who have been employed for at least 26 weeks, although this right is under review.
April 2011 - Equality Act
The public sector single equality duty will come into force as will the controversial power for employers to take positive action on recruitment and promotion. This will allow employers to recruit or promote employees because of their sex, race etc if they are "as qualified as" other candidates, provided this is done on a case-by-case basis rather than as a matter of policy.
October 2011 - Retirement age
The statutory "default retirement age" of 65 will disappear. All compulsory retirements taking effect on or after 1 October will have to be justified to avoid claims of age discrimination and unfair dismissal.
For more information on how any of these changes may affect you or your business, please contact our Employment law solicitor Christopher Aldridge at CA@kidwellssolicitors.co.uk
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