Many updates to current Employment Law have been discussed in the past few months.  It can now be confirmed that the changes due to be put in place on 6th April 2010 are as follows:

• Statutory Right to Request Training
  Employers will be requested to seriously consider requests for time off for training from employees, but will be able to refuse a request where there is a good business reason for doing so. The qualifying conditions follow much the same format as the current flexible working request requirements.

• Blacklisting for union membership
  The blacklisting of workers from employment as a result of their union membership or activities is prevented. This would enable an employee to take a claim to tribunal if they are refused employment, subjected to a detriment, or unfairly dismissed for a reason relating to a blacklist.

• “Fit Note Regulations”
  Doctors will now be requested to indicate whether an employee is unfit for work in entirity or what work they are fit to do with appropriate support if available.

•  Paternity Leave
  Additional paternity leave for fathers (or partners of mothers or adopters) will now be entitled to request up to 26 weeks paid paternity leave (assuming the mother or adoption partner has returned to work).  The changes will apply to babies due to be born on or after 3rd April 2011. There are numerous qualifying conditions to the entitlement, including giving written notice 14 weeks prior to the childs expected due date, the mother providing a written declaration and qualifying service criteria.

• Statutory Pay Rates
  The Staturtory Paternity Pay (SPP), Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) rates will increase to £124.88 per week from 6th April 2010.

• Statutory Sick Pay
  There will be no change to the Statutory Sick Pay rate of £79.15 per week.