Employment Law Timetable
Equal Treatment for Agency Workers
1 October 2011
The Agency Workers Regulations provide agency workers with the same basic employment conditions after 12 weeks in a given job as if they had been employed directly by the end-user, including pay, holiday, rest periods and rest breaks. Access to facilities and information about job vacancies apply from day one of the assignment.
National Minimum Wage Increases
1 October 2011
The Adult rate increases from £5.93 to £6.08 per hour. The development rate increases from £4.92 to £4.98 per hour, the rate for workers aged 16 to 17 from £3.64 to £3.68 per hour, and the apprentice rate from £2.50 to £2.60 per hour.
Vetting and Barring Scheme
To be confirmed
A scaled back vetting and barring scheme for individuals working with children and vulnerable adults will be introduced. The Protection of Freedoms Bill amends the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 by abolishing registration with the scheme and monitoring requirements. It maintains a barring scheme but redefines the activities to which the scheme applies.
Amendments to the Working Time Regulations 1998
2012 (consultation ended 8 August 2011)
The proposal is to allow the carry-over of paid holiday where a worker has been unable to take it due to sick leave or maternity, paternity, adoption, or parental leave, or to rearrange it where the worker falls sick during paid holiday.
Personal Accounts Scheme
October 2012
The Pensions Act 2008 provides that employers must automatically enrol all eligible employees not already participating in a workplace pension scheme into the employer’s pension scheme or the new personal accounts scheme under the National Employment Savings Trust pension scheme. The threshold for automatic enrolment is aligned with the personal allowance for income tax. Employers are not required automatically to enrol individuals employed for under 12 weeks. To encourage participation, employees’ pension contributions will be supplemented by employers’ contributions and tax relief.
Parental Leave Increases to Four Months
March 2013
The minimum parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child increases from three to four months. At least one of the four months will not be transferable between parents.
The Directive from the European Council comes into force on 8 March 2012 but the Government intends to use a grace period that allows member states to delay implementation of the changes by one year “to take account of particular difficulties”.
School Leaving Age is Raised to 17
2013
The Education and Skills Act 2008 changes the statutory framework to put a duty on all young people in England to participate in education or training until the age of 17. It also amends legislation about the provision of adult education and training, and support for young people.
Flexible Working for All Employees
2015
The Government will extend the right to request flexible working to all employees. Currently, the right applies to those who have one or more children aged 16 or under and 18 where the child is disabled or who cares for an adult.
School Leaving Age is Raised to 18
2015
The Education and Skills Act 2008 changes the statutory framework to put a duty on all young people in England to participate in education or training until the age of 18.
“Flexible” Maternity and Paternity Leave
2015
Changes will be made to maternity and paternity leave to provide parents with more flexibility as to when they take time off. It is expected that the changes will allow both parents to take leave at the same time, instead of the mother having to have returned to work before the father can take additional paternity leave, and allow parents to take time off in blocks, rather than all in one go.
Equalisation of State Pension Age for Women
April 2016
The state pension age for women is equalised with the state pension age for men by November 2018, with an expedited increase from April 2016.
State Pension Age Rises to 66 Years
December 2018
The Pensions Act 2007 raises the state pension age from 65 to 66 years to reflect the ageing nature of the population. The rise in the state pension age to 66 for men and women begins gradually from December 2018 until April 2020. The Pensions Act 2007 also raises the state pension age to 67 and 68. The Act can be viewed on the OPSI website.
State Pension Age Rises to 67 Years
Between 2034 and 2036
The Pensions Act 2007 raises the state pension age for men and women to 67. This will occur between April 2034 and April 2036. The Act can be viewed on the OPSI website.
State Pension Age Rises to 68 Years
Between 2044 and 2046
The Pensions Act 2007 raises the state pension age for men and women to 68. This will occur between April 2044 and April 2046. The Act can be viewed on the OPSI website.
