Summary of Recent Employment Law Developments

Employment Law Updates You Might Have Missed

As the summer holidays come to an end, it’s important to catch up on the latest developments in employment law. Here’s a quick summary of some key changes that have been announced recently:

Worker Protections:
A new version of the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill is making its way through Parliament. The bill has been diluted from its original form, with two key changes being made:
– Removal of employer liability for third party harassment of employees.
– Employers must now take “reasonable steps” to protect employees from sexual harassment, rather than “all reasonable steps.”

Changes to Paternity Leave:
Following a 2019 consultation on reforms to parental leave, the government has announced changes to paternity leave, including:
– Allowing fathers to split the two-week statutory entitlement into two one-week blocks.
– Statutory paternity leave can now be taken within the first year after birth, rather than the first eight weeks.
– Introducing a 28-day notice period before each period of paternity leave.

Agency Workers and Strikes:
The High Court has quashed regulations allowing employment businesses to provide agency workers to cover employees who are striking. This decision came after trade unions challenged the government’s failure to consult on the changes.

Strikes (Minimum Service Level) Act 2023:
The Strikes (Minimum Service Level) Act has received royal assent, allowing the government to implement regulations for minimum service requirements during strike action in key public services.

ACAS updated guidance on sickness absence:
ACAS has published new guidance on managing sickness absence and recommended approaches to absence policies and trigger point systems.

Presidential guidance on alternative dispute resolution:
New Presidential Guidance has been issued on approaches to alternative dispute resolution in the Employment Tribunal, giving the Tribunal the option to order certain types of ADR.

These updates in employment law are crucial for both employers and employees to be aware of. Stay informed and stay compliant with the latest changes in the legal landscape.