Employment legislation goes over most employers’ heads

Findings from a new poll of HR staff demonstrate a worrying lack of
knowledge of forthcoming employment legislation and a dearth of understanding
on how it could affect business.

The results, revealed exclusively to Personnel Today, show that UK employers
are underestimating the importance of European employment law and its future
impact.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and law firm Hammonds
quizzed 250 companies and found a general lack of awareness of new
discrimination laws. The rules surrounding religious and sexual orientation
discrimination, which are due to be introduced in December, have gone largely
unnoticed by UK organisations.

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According to the poll, 34 per cent of employers were either entirely unaware
of the laws or had no plans to change policies. Just 14 per cent said they
would be taking positive steps to comply with the regulations.

Sue Nixon, head of employment law at Hammonds, said companies must become
more aware of changes in the law to help avoid costly future claims.