Employment Law Changes in 2010
14th April 2010 by: Alexander Egerton
- Unfair Dismissal Awards
The maximum compensatory award for an unfair dismissal claim will fall from £66,200 to £65,300 for dismissals with an effective date of termination after 1 February 2010. This is to reflect a decrease in the Retail Prices Index. - Statutory Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Pay
From 4 April 2010 statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay will increase from £123.06 per week to £124.88 per week. - Additional Paternity Leave
With effect from 6 April 2010, fathers whose babies are due on or after 3rd April 2011 will be entitled to up to 26 weeks' Additional Paternity Leave if the baby's mother returns to work before the end of her full entitlement. Under the new law the mother will be ale to "transfer" the balance of her maternity leave to the father. - Time off for Training
From 6 April 2010, employees will have the right to request time off for additional training. This right will initially apply to employees of employer's with more than 250 employees with more that 26 weeks' service. Employer's are not under an obligation to grant such a request but they must give full consideration to such requests and follow the procedure set out in The Employee Study and Training (Eligibility, Complaints and Remedies) Regulations 2010 and The Employee Study and Training (Procedural Requirements) Regulations 2010. - Fit Notes to replace Sick Notes
From 6 April 2010 GP's will issue ‘Fit Notes' instead of ‘Sick Notes.' Fit Notes will outline what duties an employee is fit to undertake, as opposed to what duties an employee is not fit to carry out. GP's will also use Fit Notes to recommend what adjustments could be made to facilitate the employee's return to work. - Data Protection
From 6 April 2010 the UK Information Commissioner will have the power to fine organisations up to £500,000 for breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998.
Add new comment