Government employment law review extended
The Government's employment law review is to be extended in a
bid to remove some of the restrictions placed on employers.
Concerns have already been raised that the review - which aims
to tighten up on discrimination compensation claims - could dilute
employee's rights.
The new areas which are to be reviewed will be announced today,
11 May, at the Institute for Economic Affairs by Liberal Democrat
minister Ed Davey.
Alongside making the employment tribunal system simpler, the
review will also debate the process by which sickness absence is
managed. It will consider whether to extend the length of time
before which an unfair dismissal claim can be started, as well as
examining current collective redundancy rules.
A government source said, "Many employers worry that high awards
at employment tribunals encourage people to take weak, speculative
or vexatious cases in the hope of a large payout.
"Employers are also concerned that the current requirement that
consultation over collective redundancy runs for a minimum period
of 90 days is hindering their ability to restructure efficiently
and retain a flexible workforce.
"Employers in financial difficulties sometimes worry about how
long they need to keep paying staff after it has become clear that
they need to let them go," added the source.