Article by Paul Newdick
Introduction
On 8th July 2002, the Employment Bill received Royal Assent and is now the Employment Act 2002 ("the Act").
The Act represents a wide ranging package. Principally it is concerned with three main issues, namely, working parents (maternity, paternity and adoptive leave and pay), dispute resolution in the work place and improving the skills of employees.
An additional clause on flexible working was introduced as the original Bill passed through Committee Stage in Parliament towards the end of January this year.
The Act itself essentially amounts to a piece of enabling legislation. Employers, employees and advisers alike are going to have to wait for the publication of the many regulations that section after section of the Act refers to before they know what the precise nature of the new rights and obligations will be. That said, the Act does go into considerable detail as to what the regulations should cover.
