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Employment Law Update (January 2010)

Changes on the agenda for 2010

With the arrival of 2010, take a little time to check you're up to date on the employment measures scheduled to come into force in the next year or so.

Of course, there is bound to be a general election before summer and this could result in a change of Government. Whether or not there is a change of Government, new policies are likely to be announced which affect employers and employees. Here at Mentor, we'll do all we can to keep you up to date with what's likely to be on the agenda.

Below is a summary of what's planned so far.

Date	Event	Summary
2010
April	"Fit Note" to replace "Sick Note"	From April, GPs will use a new form of sick note when certifying sickness. An additional, third, category of "Fit for some work" is to be introduced, to encourage employers and employees to consider return to work on a limited or gradual basis.
April	Right to request "Time off for Training" commences	Employees will have a new right to request reasonable unpaid time off for relevant training. Employers will have the right to refuse such requests and will have no obligation to pay for or subsidise the training.
April	Statutory Maternity, Paternity, Adoption and Sick Pay increase.	New rates are yet to be announced.
Spring	Equality Bill becomes law	The Equality Bill will bring together all existing anti-discrimination laws. It will also place greater duties on employers to take steps to actively achieve equality for minorities and women in the workplace.
July	Vetting and Barring database goes "live"	From Summer, the next stage of the Vetting and Barring Scheme will be implemented in England and Wales. The online database is scheduled to be up and running by July with compulsory registration of new employees working in "regulated activities" by November. The dates for the equivalent scheme in Scotland have yet to be announced.
1st October	National Minimum Wage increases	New rates are yet to be announced.
1st October	21 year olds must be paid the "adult" rate of the National Minimum Wage
2011
3^rd April 2011	Mothers will be able to transfer some unused maternity leave entitlement to fathers
October 2011	Agency workers to get new rights	Agency workers will be entitled to equivalent pay and benefits as permanent staff after 12 weeks' service.