Employment law: what to expect in 2014

A brief look ahead at some of the key employment law developments expected in 2014.

The start of another year brings a range of significant new employment law developments for employers to be aware of. The key changes expected in 2014 are as follows:

• Amended TUPE Regulations come into force on 31 January 2014 (see our news item);
• Various changes resulting from the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 take effect on 6 April 2014: o Mandatory pre-claim Acas conciliation introduced; o Employment judges given the discretion to impose financial penalties on employers who lose at a tribunal hearing; o Discrimination questionnaires abolished.
• The right to request flexible working is due to be extended to all employees with at least 26 weeks’ service (not limited to those with caring responsibilities) on 6 April 2014 (NB latest indications are that this is likely to be delayed and will take effect later in the year);
• Abolition of the current rules on Statutory Sick Pay record-keeping (6 April 2014) and the introduction of a new approach to sickness absence management is expected in spring 2014;
• New Regulations expected during 2014 giving tribunals the power to order employers to carry out equal pay audits, if they are found to have discriminated in relation to contractual or non-contractual pay.

Breakfast update briefing – date for your diary

For more information on these and other recent and forthcoming employment law developments, please join us at the next employment law breakfast briefing, which will be held on Tuesday 11 March 2014, at the Barnham Broom Hotel near Norwich.

Look out for further details and information about how to book your place, which will be available very soon.