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2017 will see some changes in Employment Law. How will they affect you?

Mandatory gender pay gap reporting

The most significant change will be the mandatory gender pay gap reporting. To address the pay gap between women and men, draft regulations have been published which, will come into force in April 2017, subject to parliamentary approval.

The extent to which this will affect companies will dependant on their size. They will be required to publish gender pay gap figures annually. They must publish:

  • the difference between the mean hourly rate of pay of male and female employees;
  • the difference in median hourly rates of those employees;
  • the difference between the mean and median bonus pay paid to relevant employees and the proportion of male and female employees who were paid a bonus.

Employers will have set out what actions, if any, they plan to take to address them. This allows the Equality and Human Rights Commission to take enforcement action against defaulting employers.

Draft regulations have also been published which impose similar obligations on public sector employers with 250 or more employees.

Employment tribunal fees

Previously, no fees were payable for instituting employment tribunal proceedings. But fees were introduced under a new scheme in July 2013. Since then, claimants have to pay a fee on issuing a tribunal claim, and an additional fee when a claim progresses to a hearing.

Grandparental leave

The Government plans to extend the right to shared parental leave and pay (currently enjoyed by parents and their partners) to working grandparents. With grandparental leave and pay fom 2018, parents will be allowed to transfer part of their shared parental leave to grandparents. It’s thought that if shared parental leave was shared with grandparents, it would allow parents to return to work more quickly.

The other benefit would be to encourage more grandparents to remain in their jobs instead of leaving their jobs to help look after their grandchildren.

How can Askews help you?
Askews Legal LLP has a dedicated team of Employment specialists who can assist with any employment law issues. For further advice or a free of charge, no obligation review of your contracts, please contact Lianne Payne, Head of Employment at Askews Legal LLP (Lianne@askewslegal.co) or Click Here to enquire or call us on 02476 231000. Confidential Quick service assured.

 

Askews Legal LLP – Solicitors Coventry.