Hall, Mark
UK: Key employment law changes come into force
16 Oktober 2014
A range of employment law changes took effect in the United Kingdom in spring and early summer 2014. This article outlines the main changes introduced and the dates on which they came into force.
New code of practice on flexible working
15 Mai 2014
The Children and Families Bill [1], expected to become law in the UK shortly,
contains provisions that extend the right to request flexible working to all
employees. At present, this right applies only to parents and carers in
certain circumstances.
[1] http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2012-13/childrenandfamilies.html
High pay differentials can lead to low staff morale
15 Mai 2014
On 20 January 2014, the High Pay Centre [1] published a research report on
pay differential in UK businesses. The report, The high cost of high pay: an
analysis of pay inequality within firms (580 KB PDF) [2], argues that
workplaces with the biggest differences between the highest and lowest paid
employees have higher levels of industrial disputes, increased sickness
absence and a higher staff turnover.
[1] http://highpaycentre.org/
[2] http://highpaycentre.org/files/High_Cost_of_High_Pay1.pdf
Tube strike prompts calls for tougher strike laws
27 April 2014
On 4–6 February 2014, a 48-hour strike was held by London Underground staff
belonging to the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT
[1]) and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA [2]), causing
extensive travel disruption for people living and working in London.
[1] http://www.rmt.org.uk/home/
[2] http://www.tssa.org.uk/
Employers want low pay rises and flexible employment
25 Februar 2014
The latest annual CBI/Accenture employment trends survey (343 KB PDF) [1] was
published on 17 December 2013 by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI
[2]).
[1] http://www.cbi.org.uk/media/2521218/cbi_employment_trends_survey_2013.pdf
[2] http://www.cbi.org.uk/
Government consults on regulating ‘zero hours’ contracts
21 Januar 2014
So-called ‘zero hours’ employment contracts in the United Kingdom
(*UK1308029I* [1]) allow employers to take workers on without guaranteeing
any specific amount of work,
[1] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/industrial-relations-undefined-working-conditions/zero-hours-contracts-in-the-spotlight
Unions call for worker representation on boards
12 Januar 2014
A report published on 22 October 2013 by the Trades Union Congress (TUC [1])
makes the case for a stronger voice for workers in corporate governance
structures, including ‘a mandatory system for the representation of workers
on company boards’.
[1] http://www.tuc.org.uk/
Union accepts new working conditions at petrochemicals plant
12 Januar 2014
In October 2013, a high-profile industrial dispute affected the Grangemouth
oil refinery and petrochemicals plant in Scotland, which is owned by the
Swiss-based company, Ineos [1]. The site employs 1,370 permanent workers and
2,000 contractors and is of considerable importance to the UK’s energy
network. The dispute was notable for its political and energy policy
dimensions, as well as the controversial tactics used by both the company and
the union involved, Unite [2].
[1] http://www.ineos.com/
[2] http://www.unitetheunion.org/
United Kingdom: Impact of the recession on workplaces and on employment relations
07 Januar 2014
The first findings of the 2011 UK Workplace Employment Relations Study,
published in January 2013, present an authentic picture of employee
representation, collective bargaining and consultation arrangements in
British workplaces. They also throw an interesting light on the impact of the
recession on workplaces, and practices relating to employees and employment
relations. This report, which compares the situation with that of the 2004
survey, also explores the impact of recent major policy initiatives.
Teachers suspend strike action after offer of talks
05 Dezember 2013
The two largest UK teachers’ unions – the National Union of Teachers (NUT
[1]) and the National Association of Schoolmasters/ Union of Women Teachers
(NASUWT [2]) are in dispute with the government over their workload,
bureaucracy, pay cuts, changes to their pensions, and job cuts. Beth Farhat,
Regional Secretary for the Northern Trade Union Congress, said in a press
release [3] on 21 October that
[1] http://www.teachers.org.uk/node
[2] http://www.nasuwt.org.uk/index.htm
[3] http://www.tuc.org.uk/industrial-issues/education-and-schools/lesson-right-and-wrong