Employment Law Key Dates 2009
By EBS Law
Jan 28, 2009 - 1:53:23 PM
Key Dates 2009
Whilst the pace of employment law is probably set to slow down slightly in the latter part of 2009 as a result of the economic downturn, there are still a number of key developments to watch out for, including:
1 February 2009
The limits applying to certain employment tribunal awards and to other amounts payable under employment legislation will increase. For example, the maximum amount of a 'week's pay' (used for calculating an unfair dismissal basic award and statutory redundancy payments) will increase from £330 to £350.
1 April 2009
The statutory minimum holiday entitlement increases from 4.8 weeks to 5.6 weeks.
5 April 2009
The standard weekly rate of statutory maternity pay (SMP) and the weekly rates of statutory paternity pay (SPP) and statutory adoption pay (SAP) will increase from £117.18 to £123.06.
6 April 2009
The weekly rate of statutory sick pay (SSP) will increase from £75.40 to £79.15.
The lower earnings limit for qualifying for SMP, SPP, SAP and SSP will increase from £90.00 to £95.00 per week.
The statutory disciplinary and dismissal procedures (DDP) and statutory grievance procedures (GP) and the current ACAS Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures are being abolished by the Employment Act 2008, to be replaced with a ‘lighter touch’ non-statutory regime based on a brand new ACAS Code of Practice.
The various other provisions of the Employment Act 2008 will come into force, including changes to: enforcement of the national minimum wage (NMW), trade union membership law and ACAS conciliation.
The right to request flexible working will be extended to parents of children up to the age of 16.
The right to time off work for public duties is being extended to employees in a wider range of civic roles.
1 August 2009
Trainee doctors will be subject to a weekly working limit of 48 hours.
1 October 2009
Subject to prevailing economic conditions and the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission, the national minimum wage (NMW) may rise from 1 October 2009. In addition, the government is proposing to amend the legislation to prevent employers from using tips and service charges to top up employees’ pay to meet the NMW, but the date of implementation of this is not yet known.
12 October 2009
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 will introduce a centralised vetting system for employees and will create a single list of people banned from working with children and vulnerable adults. Penalties will be imposed on employers who fail to make the necessary checks.
