Legislation - new and future developments.

Increase in SSP rate 6 April 2008
The new rate for statutory sick pay (SSP) is up from £72.55 to £75.40.

Increase in family leave rates 6 April 2008
The new standard rate for statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay increased from £112.75 tp £117.18 per week.

Annual increase in a week’s pay and employment tribunal awards 1 February 2008
The maximum week’s pay for calculating redundancy payments and the basic award up from £310 to £330. The maximum compensatory award increased from £60,600 to £63,000.

Increase in national minimum wages 1 October 2007
The annual increase in the national minimum wage takes effect. The standard rate (22+) up from £5.35 to £5.52, the development rate (18-21) up from £4.45 to £4.60 and the rate for 16-17 year olds goes up from £3.30 to £3.40.

Increase in statutory minimum holidays 1 October 2007
The minimum holiday entitlement increases from 4 weeks to 4.8 weeks until 31 March 2009 and then to 5.6 weeks from 1 April 2009. Read article >

Changes to family friendly rights April 2007
Changes include maternity and adoption pay, extended (expectedly to 9 months), a right for carers of adults to request flexible working and the introduction of additional paternity leave of up to 26 weeks, if the mother returns to work. Read article >

Increase in national minimum wages 1 October 2006
1 October 2006: The annual increase in the national minimum wage takes effect. The standard rate (22+) up from £5.05 to £5.35, the development rate (18-21) up from £4.25 to £4.45 and the rate for 16-17 year olds goes up from £3.00 to £3.30.

Introduction of age discrimination law 1 October 2006
1 October 2006: Age discrimination is introduced. Discrimination in the employment field on the grounds of age or apparent age – whether too young or too old - becomes unlawful. Also, employees will have a statutory right to request to continue working after their normal retirement date or 65 and a dismissal because of retirement may be unfair. The upper age limits for bringing an unfair dismissal claim and entitlement to a statutory redundancy payment will go. Read article>

Work and Families Act 2006 receives royal assent 21 June 2006
21 June 2006: The Work and Families Act 2006 receives royal assent. Certain provisions are to be dealt with in forthcoming regulations, to come into effect in April 2007. Changes include maternity and adoption pay, extended (expectedly to 9 months), a right for carers of adults to request flexible working and the introduction of additional paternity leave of up to 26 weeks, if the mother returns to work.

Increase in SSP rate 6 April 2006
6 April 2006: The new rate for statutory sick pay (SSP) is increased from £68.20 to £70.05.

New race code of practice 6 April 2006
6 April 2006: The new statutory code of practice on racial equality in employment 2005 in force replacing the 1984 code.

Increase in family leave rates 2 April 2006
2 April 2006: The new standard rate for statutory maternity, adoption and paternity pay increased from £106 to £108.85 per week.

Annual increase in a week's pay and employment tribunal awards 1 February 2006
1 February 2006: The maximum week's pay for calculating redundancy payments and the basic award up from £280 to £290. The maximum compensatory award increased from £56,800 to £58,400.

Increase in national minimum wages 1 October 2005
1 October 2005: The annual increase in the national minimum wage takes effect. The standard rate (22+) up from £4.85 to £5.05, the development rate (18-21) up from £4.10 to £4.25 but the rate for 16-17 year olds remains £3.00.

Changes to discrimination law 1 October 2005
1 October 2005: Changes to the definition of indirect discrimination in sex discrimination and harassment.

Employment tribunal claim forms 1 October 2005
1 October 2005: Mandatory claim forms (ET1) and response forms (ET3) for employment tribunal claims.

Whistleblowing 1 October 2005
1 October 2005: Changes to the people to whom a protected disclosure may be made.

Increase in family leave rates 6 April 2005
6 April 2005: The new standard rate for statutory maternity, adoption and paternity pay increased from £102.50 to £106 per week, and lower earnings level for NIC purposes increased from £79 to £82 per week.

Information and consultation 6 April 2005
6 April 2005: Employers have to inform and consult with their workforce on a wide range of issues. Read article>

Annual increase in a week's pay and employment tribunal awards 1 February 2005
1 February 2005: The maximum week's pay for calculating redundancy payments and the basic award up from £270 to £280. The maximum compensatory award increased from £55,000 to £56,800.

Unfair dismissal 1 October 2004
1 October 2004: and more implementation of the Employment Act 2002 introducing important changes to unfair dismissal law and procedure. Read article>

Statutory dispute resolution procedures 1 October 2004
1 October 2004: statutory disciplinary, dismissal and grievance procedures introduced. Failure to follow procedures can lead to increases and reduction of compensation. Read article>

Disability discrimination 1 October 2004
1 October 2004: changes to the definition of disability discrimination and the introduction of a freestanding right to complain of harassment, before, during and sometimes after employment as well as the introduction of questionnaires. Read Article>

Working Time 1 August 2004
1 August 2004: The Working Time Regulations extended to junior doctors.

Increase in rates 6 April 2004
6 April 2004: The new standard rate for statutory maternity, Adoption and paternity pay increased to £102.50, statutory sick pay increased to £66.15 and lower earnings level for NIC purposes increased to £79 per week.

Annual increase in a week's pay and employment tribunal awards 1 February 2004
1 February 2004: The maximum week's pay for calculating redundancy payments and the basic award up from £260 to £270. The maximum compensatory award increased from £53,500 to £55,000.

Religion or belief discrimination 2 December 2003
2 December 2003: a new form of discrimination in the workplace outlawing direct and indirect discrimination and harassment before, during and sometimes after employment. Read Article>

Sexual Orientation 1 December 2003
1 December 2003: new form of discrimination in the workplace outlawing direct and indirect discrimination and harassment before, during and sometimes after employment. Read Article>

Revised Combined Code on Corporate Governance 1 November 2003
1 November 2003: The revised code aims to enhance board effectiveness and investor confidence by improving standards of corporate governance. It applies for reporting years beginning on or after 1 November 2003.

Working Time 1 August 2003
1 August 2003: the Working Time Regulations extended to all non-mobile workers in road, sea, inland waterways and lake transport, to all workers in the railway and offshore sectors, and to all workers in aviation who are not covered by the Aviation Directive.

Race relations 19 July 2003
19 July 2003: several changes introduced, including new definitions of direct and indirect discrimination, the introduction of a freestanding statutory right against harassment and prohibiting discrimination after the employment ends, as long as it arises out of or is closely connected to the employment relationship.
Read Article>

Sex Discrimination 19 July 2003
19 July 2003: sex discrimination law changed (in a similar way to race discrimination) to prohibit discrimination after the employment ends, as long as the discrimination arises out of and is closely connected to the employment relationship.

Equal pay 19 July 2003
19 July 2003: the law altered to remove the 2 year compensation limit and to extend time for brining a claim if the employer deliberately conceals relevant facts.

Equal pay questionnaires 6 April 2003
6 April 2003: a woman can send her employer a questionnaire, asking for information to see if she is receiving equal pay and, if not, to establish why there is a pay difference.

The questionnaire can be sent before a claim is brought in the employment tribunal or within 21 days of doing so. If the employer fails to reply within 8 weeks without a reasonable excuse, or is evasive or equivocal, the employment tribunal may draw an adverse inference.

Family friendly rights 6 April 2003
6 April 2003: introduction of new family friendly rights increasing maternity leave and pay and introducing adoption leave and pay, paid paternity leave and flexible working requests.

Paid paternity leave. Read Article>

Flexible working. Read Article>