Employment Law Developments In Queen´s Speech

The Queen’s Speech on Tuesday 6th November contained a number of employment law related announcements, including commitment to:

1. a new Employment Bill. Most significantly this will repeal the statutory dispute resolution procedures and replace them with a new and non-compulsory system. The Employment Bill will also change the enforcement and penalties framework for the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and employment agency standards. The intention for NMW is to increase the penalties available for employers caught in breach and to give full powers to HMRC to recover all underpayments due to employees.
2. "proposals to help people achieve a better balance between work and family life". The Government is now considering ways of extending the right to request flexible working further. The HR Director of Sainsbury’s has been appointed to lead an independent review to determine how the current right to request flexible working can be extended to older children. Recommendations are expected