Our continuing series of articles which give the basics on key areas of
employment legislation
Working parents
The hard facts
Employment Bill 2001
Much has been written about the Employment Bill 2001, which is presently
before the Commons Standing Committee. Once implemented, it is expected to have
a wide-ranging effect.
– The Employment Bill 2001 can be found at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmbills/044/2002044.pdf
– Its main provisions affect working parents, dispute resolution via
grievance and disciplinary procedures and a new tribunal procedure. The
relevant parts of the Bill are:
– Paternity and Adoption: Part 1, Chapter 1
– Maternity Leave: Part 1, Chapter 2
– Tribunal Reform: Part 2
– Dispute Resolution: Part 3 and Schedule 2
Reading around the subject
Paternity leave and maternity leave
– The government’s consultation document is a useful starting point for
reading about the intentions behind the Bill::
http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/paternity.pdf
– and response is at:
http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/g_paper/pdfs/response.pdf
– A summary of the present rights (including those recently changed on 10
January 2002 by the Maternity and Parental Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2001
can be found at:
http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/individual/maternity.pdf
Tribunal reform and dispute resolution
The government’s consultation document, "Routes to Dispute Resolution:
Improving Dispute Resolution in Britain":
http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/individual/resolution.pdf
– and the response is a useful starting point:
http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/individual/etresponse.pdf
In the news
– TUC Welcomes Employment Bill plans for grievance and disciplinary
procedures:
http://www.tuc.org.uk/law/tuc-3970-f0.cfm
– "Shake-up for workers’ rights", BBC news online, Friday 9
November 2001:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1646000/1646865.stm
– CBI Comment on the Bill:
– "Government gets CBI praise for Tribunal Reform"
Other sources
Acas
www.acas.org.uk
Confederation of British Industry
www.cbi.org.uk
Department of Education and Employment
www.dfee.gov.uk
Department of Trade and Industry
www.dti.gov.uk
Her Majesty’s Stationery Office
www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk
Trades Union Congress
www.tuc.org.uk
Government Online Information Service
www.ukonline.co.uk
Equal Opportunities Commission
www.eoc.org.uk
BBC
www.bbc.co.uk
Financial Times
www.ft.com
Employment Tribunal Taskforce
www.employmenttribunalsystemtaskforce.gov.uk
Useful contact details
Employment Relations Directorate
Helpline for Maternity Rights, Parental Leave and Time off for
Dependants:Â 020-7215 6207
Something to look out for…The
latest issue of Personnel Today’s sister publication Employers’ Law includes
the Government’s plans for solving disputes, the implications of TUPE
regulations, and how the confidentiality secrets of the stars can benefit HR
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By Sarah Keeble and Rebecca Ford at Olswang, www.olswang.com
