On 6^th April 2010, several changes to UK employment law came into force, these affect employers and employees alike. Here’s our small guide to the big changes.

1. Fit Notes. The old sick note system will be replaced with a Fit Note system. The new system aims at helping people back into work because it allows GPs to make recommendations of alterations to an employee’s role or workplace which would allow them to get back into work.
2. Requests in relation to study or training. Employees now have the legal right to make a request relating to study or training, such as asking for time off work to study. This new system, modelled on parents’ and carers’ rights to ask for flexible working, aims to help the workforce to become more skilled.
3. Additional Paternity Leave. New fathers are now entitled to take as many as 26 weeks of paternity leave, within the first year of the child’s life. This new rule allows them to effectively share 52 weeks of paternity leave with the mother, who can return to work after 6 months and allow the father to stay at home with the baby for a further 6 months.
4. Data Protection. Organisations that are found to have seriously breached the Data Protection Act 1998 can now be fined up to £500,000 by the Information Commissioner.
5. Pensions. The minimum pension age rises from 50 to 55, apart from in cases where retirement is forced by seriously ill health. The number of years needed to receive a full basic state pension drops to 30 and the state pension retirement age for women increases.
6. Statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay. Standard maternity, paternity and adoption pay rises to £124.88 from £123.06 a week whilst statutory sick pay remains the same at £79.15.
7. Trade Union Blacklisting. On March 2^nd 2010 it became illegal to terminate the employment of, or to refuse employment to a person who is a member of a trade union.