The Government has launched a further consultation on draft regulations to implement the EU Agency Workers Directive into domestic law.  The Government is said to be 'committed' to implementing the legislation by the end of this Parliament with a view to the law coming into force in... read more

According to figures obtained by the British Chamber of Commerce, one in four businesses in the UK use agency workers. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation estimates that there are around 1.4 million agency workers in the UK, the majority of whom are engaged in clerical, semi skilled... read more

The Law Society has published the results of its online survey conducted March to April 2009 on whether the legal profession supported its views on matters such as the current £25,000 cap for breach of contract claims and that employment tribunals should deliver written judgments on the day of... read more

In March the Information Commissioner confirmed fears that many employees were being blacklisted as a result of a database containing information on their past conduct, work ethic or trade union membership and involvement. Around 40 companies were said to have subscribed to that database. In... read more

Currently, qualifying employees can request flexible working in order to care for a child under six years old, where they are the parent, adoptive parent, foster parent or guardian of that child or the spouse, civil partner or partner of that person. From the 6th April 2009 this right will be... read more

From the 5th of April 2009 the rate of statutory sick pay and maternity, paternity and adoption pay will be increasing. Statutory Sick Pay will increase from £75.40 a week to £79.15. Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Pay will increase to £123.06 from £117.18 a week.     ... read more

The Employment Act 2008 will insert a new section 19 to 19H into National Minimum Wage Act 1998 with effect from 6 April 2009. This will replace the existing separate enforcement and penalty notices with a single notice of underpayment. These notices will require the employer to pay a financial... read more

The statutory dispute resolution procedures will be repealed from 6th April 2009, together with section 98A of the Employment Rights Act 1996.  The statutory procedures will be replaced by a new ACAS Code of Practice on discipline and grievance and employment tribunals will be able to... read more

The Employment Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations which come into force on the 6th April 2009, make several amendment to the current Employment Tribunal rules. The Amendment Regulations delete those parts of the current Employment Tribunal rules that... read more

  Minimum statutory holiday under the Working Time Regulations 1998 will be increased from 4.8 weeks to 5.6 weeks with effect from 1 April 2009.  This means that an employee who works a 5 day week will be entitled to 28 days holiday (inclusive of bank and public holidays).   read more