On 6 April a number of important changes to employment law will be implemented. Bills designed to assist parents and people looking to start families will make provision for flexible working hours, paternity leave and adoption leave, and provide increases in maternity leave time and payments. Current minimum redundancy payments and compensation limits will also be increased.

From 6 April operatives with children under the age of six or disabled children under 18 will have the right to apply for flexible working hours. While a new right to paternity leave will qualify new fathers for up to two weeks of paid leave. The standard rate of paternity pay is £100 per week, in line with maternity pay.

The right to adoption leave and pay will now grant up to 26 weeks paid leave, with an extra 26 weeks available unpaid. Maternity leave will also be increased to 26 weeks, regardless of how long the employee has worked for a company. Women who have completed 26 weeks service by the 15th week before their expected date of childbirth will be eligible for a further 26 weeks. The standard rate of statutory maternity pay will increase, from £75 to £100 per week, as will redundancy payments, rising from £250 to £260 per week.

For more information on any of the above mentioned employment law changes go to www.dti.gov.uk.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor