Latest employment law updates uk

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See also our IR35 implications for people professionals guides. From this date, workers will gain the right not to be subjected to detrimental treatment for leaving or refusing to return to work if they believe themselves to be in 'serious and imminent danger'. Previously the right under s44 of the Employment Rights Act only applied to employees. The change follows a High Court decision last autumn in a case involving the gig workers union, the IWGB, that the government had failed to implement the EU Health and Safety Framework Directive properly into UK law by omitting workers from s44 protection.

The right is now being used more frequently by employees worried about travelling to or being in work during the Covid pandemic. EU nationals who have applied for British citizenship but are still waiting to receive it must also apply for settled or pre-settled status by this date to avoid becoming illegal immigrants on 1 July The government has produced general guidance , including a digital application form, on how to apply to the EU settlement scheme.

Those whose absences from the UK during the pandemic would ordinarily make them ineligible may now be able to apply due to a slight rule change on 15 June. The government has produced specific guidance for applicants on the Covid amendment to the rules. During the pandemic, the Home Office has allowed employers to carry out right to work checks using video calls to job applicants and scanned copies of identity documents. On 26 August, the Home Office announced that it was extending the temporary adjustments to the procedure until 5 April The government launched a consultation on this date proposing, among other changes, to remove the service requirement for making flexible working requests.

Currently employees must have worked for their employer for at least 26 weeks. The leave must be:. On this date, the government confirmed that it would include measures in the next Employment Bill making it illegal for employers to withhold or make deductions from staff tips. The plans also include:. The announcement follows up on a commitment to legislate in this area in , based on a consultation conducted in On 27 October, the government announced that the National Living Wage for those aged 23 years upwards would rise by 6.

On the same date the National Minimum Wage for 21 and year-olds will increase by 9. All other NMW rates will rise by 4. For a full list of the rates, see our Statutory rates page. The government announced on this date that it would be cutting the cost of repeat prescriptions for HRT therapy for menopausal women and setting up a new cross-party taskforce on menopause. The taskforce will consider how education and training, workplace policies, and peer groups could improve support for women experiencing adverse menopausal health issues.

The government has issued a call for evidence on the role umbrella companies are playing in the labour market, prompted by concerns over non-compliance with employment rights, such as holiday pay, and with tax laws. The consultation closes on 22 February The government is considering its response to its consultation on flexible working see entry above for 23 September which closed on this date.

Among the proposals is making flexible working requests a right for employees from the first day of their employment. The government has launched a consultation asking for views from employers and disabled people on whether the voluntary reporting of information on disability, mental health and wellbeing in organisations should become mandatory. So far, participation in a voluntary reporting framework, set up in and aimed at organisations with or more employees although smaller firms could also participate , has been low.

New regulations came into force on this date temporarily changing the rules on self-certification with the aim of relieving pressure on GPs during the pandemic. The new rules change the self-certification period to 28 days but only apply to absences from 10 December to 26 January The 7-day rule will return for absences from the 27 January onwards.

Government guidance has been updated to reflect the change. Rebates will be available for absences from 21 December onwards. An employee at risk of redundancy while on maternity, adoption, or shared parental leave has the right to be offered any suitable alternative vacancy that is available. The proposals are in response to a consultation earlier in the year on pregnancy and maternity discrimination. The government has said that legislation will be brought forward when Parliamentary time allows.

For a full breakdown see our Statutory rates page. The Good work plan contained a commitment to introduce extra statutory leave and pay for all parents of premature babies needing specialist care in a neonatal unit.

Announcements prior to the Budget indicated the premature baby leave would be in addition to existing maternity and paternity pay provisions. A round up of the year's statutory rates, providing quick and easy access to information on compensation limits, family friendly payments, statutory sick pay, national minimum wage, disclosure and barring fees and National Insurance contribution thresholds.

A collection of topic pages with resources to help you address employment law issues at work, from recruitment and terms and conditions through to TUPE and redundancy, as well as information on new and amended statutes and statutory rates. Home Knowledge hub People management fundamentals Employment law About employment law Recent and forthcoming legislation. Need immediate legal advice? Need additional resources? Need research and academic resources?

Employment legislation in 1 January Executive pay ratio reports published New regulations under the Companies Act , in force from 1 January , require UK listed companies with more than UK employees to report on the pay ratio between their chief executive and their average UK worker as part of their annual company reporting requirements. The first reports will be published from the beginning of reporting on pay awarded in