Employment Law Reform

Introduction

The government's formal response to the consultation on Resolving Workplace Disputes was finally published in December 2012. As well as the previously announced increase to two years for the qualifying period for unfair dismissal, the proposed reforms place an increased emphasis on workplace mediation, compulsory conciliation and making it much easier to reach settlement where relations have broken down. There are other changes, some subject to further consultation, which will bring about significant reform to employment issues in the workplace and will be of interest to those employing staff in veterinary practices.

The focus is business friendly and will generally be welcomed by employers in general, including those operating veterinary practices, but whether the reforms have all the intended effects will remain to be seen.