New Legislation:

We can assist you with updating your policies and procedures to comply with new legislation.

Increase in Compensation Awards
The limits to awards of Employment Tribunals increased for the year on 1 February 2007.
Minimum basic award for unfair dismissal in health & safety, employee representative, occupational pension scheme trustee and trade union cases rises to £4,200
Minimum compensation awarded by EAT where expelled or excluded from trade union rises to £6,600
Daily limit on guarantee payment rises to £19.60
Unfair dismissal cap rises from £58,400 to £60,600
The limit on a week's pay (for calculating basic or additional awards of compensation for unfair dismissal or redundancy payments) rises to £310
(1 Feb 2007)

Work and families legislation came into effect.
The statutory maternity and adoption pay (and maternity allowance) period is extended from 26 to 39 weeks for those employees whose children are expected to be born (or placed with them for adoption) on or after this date. In addition, all employees who qualify for ordinary maternity leave automatically qualify for additional maternity leave.
(1 April 2007)

Statutory pay levels
The standard weekly rate of statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay increased from £106.85 to £112.75
(1 April 2007)

Ban on Smoking (Wales)
Ban on smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces including all pubs, private members' clubs and restaurants in Wales in force.
(2 April 2007)

Flexible Working
The right to request flexible working extended to carers of adults
(6 April 2007)

SSP
The weekly rate of statutory sick pay increased from £ 70.05 to £72.55
(6 April 2006)

Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004
are extended to undertakings with 100 or more employees.
(6 April 2007)

Equality Act 2006
Provisions of this Act placing a duty on public bodies to promote gender equality came into force.
(6 April 2007)

Ban on Smoking (NI)
Ban on smoking in enclosed places and workplaces, including all pubs, private members' clubs and restaurants in Northern Ireland in force.
(30 April 2007)

Ban on Smoking (England)
Ban on smoking in enclosed places and workplaces, including all pubs, private members' clubs and restaurants in England in force.
(1 July 2007)

Statutory holiday pay
Proposed increase in statutory minimum paid holiday entitlement from 4 to 4.8 weeks (20 to 24 days for those working a five-day week).
(1 Oct 2007)

National Minimum Wage rates
The main rate will rise from £5.35 to £5.52 per hour and the ages 18-21 rate will rise from £4.45 to £4.60 per hour. The rate for 16 and 17 year olds will rise from £3.30 to £3.40 per hour.
(1 Oct 2007)

Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004
are extended to undertakings with 50 or more employees.
(6 April 2008)

Maternity and Adoption Leave
Proposed extension of paid maternity and adoption leave to 12 months, some of which will probably be transferable to the partner.
(by April 2010)

(Dates) shown are the planned or actual implementation dates.