Employment Law Reforms

The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (the "Act") introduces various reforms to employment law, some of which come into force today.

The following changes will be implemented today:

• EAT Judges
  
  All EAT cases will be heard by a judge sitting alone, under section 12 of the Act, unless otherwise directed.
• Dismissals for political opinion or affiliation
  
  Under section 13 of the Act, the unfair dismissal qualifying period will not apply to employees who have been dismissed because of their political views or affiliations.This section will not apply where the effective date of termination is before today's date.
• Whistle-blowing
  
  Section 17 of the Act introduces a requirement for a disclosure to be made 'in the public interest'. Section 18 of the Act removes the requirement for the disclosure to be made in 'good faith'. The tribunal may reduce any award it makes to the worker by up to 25% if it finds that the disclosure was not made in good faith.