Major employment law changes

Written by Ben Power

There are a number of changes to employment legislation which come into force in April 2012. We have previously trailed some, and here are the most important:

The qualifying period for unfair dismissal for those employed on or after 6th April 2012 will increase from one year to two years.

Employment Tribunals will change the way in which they function; the maximum deposit a party can be ordered to pay will rise from £500 to £1,000 and the maximum costs which a tribunal can pay will increase from £10,000 to £20,000. In addition, witness statements will be taken ‘as read’, state funded witness expenses will be withdrawn and judges will be permitted to sit alone on unfair dismissal cases.

All statutory payment rates have been increased. These include statutory maternity/paternity/adoption pay and maternity allowance rising from £128.73 to £135.45 from 1 April 2012, and statutory sick pay rising from £81.60 to £85.85 from 6 April 2012.