Britain and the EU have traditionally had a distant
relationship, with Britain often choosing to keep an arm's
length from its continental partners. This inclination may soon
become a political reality when the UK votes on whether to stay in
the EU this June. In spite of this historical distance, many labor
and employment laws in the UK such as those relating to maternity
and paternity leave, discrimination, and work time bear the
imprimatur of EU directives. Given Britain's history with the
European Union, it might appear that if the UK leaves the EU,
changes in this area of the law will be broad and swift. However,
the reality is that despite grumbling of bureaucratic red tape from
Brussels, many of these laws have become integrated into British
life, and should a "Brexit" occur, changes are likely to
be gradual and narrowly tailored.
