Practice Areas
Employment

Employment law in the UK and Europe evolves at a relentless pace. Some developments that will present challenges for UK businesses in the near future are:

New law on dismissal, disciplinary and grievance procedures
The Employment Bill will next year abolish the statutory dispute resolution procedures and replace them with a new and updated ACAS Code of Practice. The Bill will empower tribunals to increase compensation by up to 25% for non-compliance with the Code. Employers will need to ensure that HR professionals and line managers are well briefed to understand their obligations under the new law.
Immigration rules tightened
The current overhaul of the UK immigration system will see the introduction of a new, five-tier, points-based system under which employers will face stiff criminal and civil penalties if they employ anyone in breach of the new legislation. The need to comply with this complex area of regulation applies from the recruitment stage onwards.
Agency workers' rights
Under a forthcoming EU Directive, agency workers will be entitled to greater employment law rights, forcing both employment agencies and businesses that use agency workers to adapt their practices and procedures.
Equality Bill
The Equality Bill due this autumn proposes to harmonise the existing anti-discrimination and equality legislation and is expected to provide for greater protection against discrimination on the grounds of sex, age and sexual orientation.

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