NEWS & EVENTS

Dramatic changes in employment legislation which will affect all of the region's employers have been unveiled by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.

In their 'Modern Workplaces' Consultation the Government are proposing a number of changes to employment law, most importantly to Parental Leave and to flexible working.

The proposals are that a total of seven months of flexible Parental Leave should be granted, with four months of this being paid.  The extended leave could be shared between parents, taken in a number of different blocks, and both parents could take leave at the same time. This could mean, for example, that fathers could qualify for almost six months paid parental leave if they take the full allocation. 

The plans also include measures to allow all workers who have worked for more than 26 weeks to have the right to request flexible working.

Speaking about the proposals, Phil Cookson, employment law specialist at City Solicitors Roythornes said:

"These are dramatic changes, which if passed could affect the way in which the region's employers manage their workforce.  There is no doubt that the thought behind the measures is well intentioned, but the Government should also consider the needs of the many businesses who will have to comply with the new rules which could come in to force in 2015."

Employers have until 8 August this year to comment on the proposals via the Governments Modern Workplaces web site at http://discuss.bis.gov.uk/modernworkplaces/

Phil encouraged employers to view the proposals and have their say:

"It's very important that business leaders take the time to look at proposals at this stage as comments can make a difference to the resulting legislation.  If they do not, they cannot really complain if the resulting rules are not to their liking."