Legal changes in 2009: quiz answers and useful links

Completed our quiz in the print edition of Personnel Today? Here are the answers, together with a wealth of useful links to XpertHR content to ensure you stay up to date with legal changes throughout 2010.

You can also complete the online interactive version of the quiz.

Please scroll down for the answers.

1. D is correct. Employees are now entitled to 5.6 weeks’ annual leave. For more detail on the entitlement, including what it means for part-timers, see the holiday and holiday pay section of the XpertHR FAQs.

2. A is correct. Redundancy dismissals are not covered by the new Acas code of Practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures. Following the repeal of the statutory dispute resolution procedures, employers should focus on behaving reasonably when dismissing an employee for redundancy. For more information, see Dispute resolution procedures repeal: employers’ questions answered. 

3. B is correct. While the maximum award for age discrimination in 2007-08 was £12,124, this rose to £90,031 in 2008-09. See the XpertHR quick reference section for more information on recent tribunal awards. For a report on the case that resulted in the maximum award, see the XpertHR round-up of age discrimination in redundancy tribunal decisions.

4. D is correct. Unfair dismissal overtook equal pay as the most common tribunal complaint. For more information about the tribunal claims accepted under each jurisdiction, see the XpertHR quick reference section.

5. C is correct. The Supreme Court replaced the House of Lords as the final appeal court. The order of precedence is now: the UK Supreme Court; the Court of Appeal; the Employment Appeal Tribunal; and the employment tribunals.

6. C is correct. The next change is due on 1 February 2011. The amount normally changes on 1 February in line with the retail prices index, but in 2010 the operation of the index has been excluded. For more information, see the XpertHR outlook video on the implications of the October 2009 one-off increase.

7. B is correct. The main rate of the national minimum wage is now £5.80. For the development rate and the rate for young workers, along with answers to questions on including tips in the minimum wage, see the national minimum wage section of the XpertHR FAQs.

8. A is correct. The Government intends to introduce the new law in April 2010 for employers with more than 250 employees. See the XpertHR legal timetable for more information.

9. D is correct. Although a gap of up to 28 weeks for jury service will not break continuity, a 30-week period of jury service will. For more information on the qualifying period and other aspects of the draft regulations, see the XpertHR guidance on the regulations.

10. C is correct. The government plans to introduce the right in April 2010 for parents of children due on or after 3 April 2011. For more information, see the paternity and adoption rights section of the XpertHR employment law manual.