Summary of April 2011 Changes

This month sees a number of changes effecting employment relations. Some of the most important changes are as follows:

• From 6th April 2011 the Default Retirement Age of 65 will be abolished.
• A number of provisions contained in the Equality Act will come into force, including provisions relating to positive action in recruitment and promotion and general public sector equality duties.

Statutory payment rates increase from 3rd April 2011 as follows:

• Statutory Maternity Pay, Paternity Pay and Adoption Pay increase from £124.88 to £128.73;
• Statutory Sick Pay increases from £79.15 to £81.60; and
• Maternity Allowance increases from £124.88 to £128.73.
• The right to additional Paternity Leave will be available to parents with babies due on or after 3rd April 2011.

However the following changes which were due to take place in April 2011 are no longer going ahead as planned:

• Flexible Working - the right was due to extend to parents of children under 18 years however that has now been scrapped and continues to exist only for parents with children under 17 (under 18 if a child is disabled).
• Time off for training - the right of employee’s to request time off for training was due to be extended to all employers from 6th April however this has also been scrapped and the right continues to exist for employees working for companies with 250 or more employees only.