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Welcome to HR Today, the monthly newsletter from IntellectHR keeping you up-to-date with employment law changes and free HR services that our members are entitled to.
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Right to request flexible working WILL be extended after all |
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The Government has confirmed that the right to request flexible working will be extended in April 2009 to parents of children up to the age of 16. Currently only those with children under the age of six (or disabled children under the age of 18) or who have adult dependants are able to make flexible working requests.
Read the full story»
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Annual increases in rates |
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From 01 February 2009: annual rise in compensation limits.
In April 2009: the flat rate for maternity, paternity and adoption pay; new rate for statutory sick pay. |
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Children, Skills and Learning Bill |
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Under the proposed Children, Skills and Learning Bill, all UK employees with at least 26 weeks' continuous service with their employer will be given the right to request time off to undertake relevant training to improve their skills and to have those requests properly considered by their employer. Employers will not have to agree to a request if there is a good business reason for refusal. |
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Equality Bill |
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This Bill will replace nine major pieces of discrimination legislation and bring them together in one single act.
The Equality Bill is scheduled to be put before Parliament within the next year and further details are likely in the spring. |
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Welfare Reform Bill - changes to benefits |
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The Queen's Speech confirmed plans to abolish income support and move the long-term unemployed (including single parents and people with disabilities) onto jobseeker's allowance - with the result that they will face benefit cuts if they do not seek work. Incapacity benefit will be reformed so that many people currently receiving benefits will also be required to seek work. |
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Pension Act 2008 |
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The Pension Act 2008 received Royal Assent on 26 November. This requires employers to offer a qualifying workplace pension scheme to their workers and to automatically enrol all eligible workers into this scheme as from 2012. Employers may choose to offer the Government's Personal Accounts scheme or another qualifying occupational or personal pension scheme. |
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Agency Workers Directive |
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The European Union has announced that the Agency Workers Directive must be in force in the UK by 05 December 2011. This will give temps in the UK equal rights to permanent staff after 12 weeks with an employer. After 12 weeks, temporary workers will be entitled to the same or higher pay and working time conditions as a permanent worker who might have been recruited to the same position. |
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New revised ACAS guide on discipline and grievances |
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Following consultation, ACAS has now issued a revised draft guide on discipline and grievances, designed to supplement the new Code of Practice on discipline and grievance which comes into force on 06 April 2009. The basic structure remains the same and the guide aims to provide 'good practice advice' for dealing with discipline and grievances. |
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Further changes to maternity? |
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The European Commission is aiming to promote a better work-life balance for workers and is proposing several things. Some of these provisions are already incorporated into UK procedures and so will not be too onerous (eg women in the UK currently have the right to return to work and to request flexible working if they have a child under six.) |
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Equal Pay and Flexible Working Bill |
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This is a private members bill which will be given a date for its second reading and debate in the House of Lords. Whilst very few private members' bills succeed, given the government's stance on narrowing the gender pay gap and supporting working families, this is one which may just get through. |
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Time off for trade union duties |
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Acas has produced a new draft Code on Time Off Work for Trade Union Duties (plus an accompanying guide) and is currently consulting on this.
Comments are invited until 16 March 2009. |
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More on data protection |
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The Information Commissioner's Office has published a new guide for organisations that need to share people's personal information. The 'Framework Code of Practice for Sharing Personal Information' explains how public and private sector organisations can set up their own arrangements to ensure good practice where personal information is shared. |
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European Works Council Directive |
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The European Parliament has agreed a new revised version of the European Works Council Directive. This is now expected to be implemented in Member States over the next two years. This only applies to large organisations (at least 1,000 employees within the European Economic Area with at least 150 employees in each of two or more member states). |
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Some interesting cases |
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Discrimination - sexual orientation
Discrimination - sex and night shift bonuses
Read the full story»
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The demise of the opt out? |
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It's been on the cards for ages, but our ability to opt-out from the maximum average hourly working week of 48 hours is now closer to being abolished, following the European Parliament's vote to scrap this. Earlier this year the UK had agreed a deal with the European Council to keep the opt-out in return for agreeing to the Agency Workers Directive - some therefore believe the EU Parliament has betrayed them. The vote will now go to conciliation for a maximum of eight weeks while both the European Council and the European Parliament try to agree on the future of the opt-out. Read more»
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New documents |
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We've added the following this month:
- legal overviews of Attachment of Earnings Orders; Read more»
- restrictive covenants; read more»
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Guides and advice |
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- Managing in a downturn
- New Year's resolution - show some appreciation!
Read the full story» |
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