January

Advertising campaign to stop businesses employing illegal workers 

A new marketing campaign unveiled by the Government this month warns that businesses employing illegal workers face large fines of up to £10,000 and prison sentences of up to two years. This stark message is designed to drive home the changes to the rules for checking for illegal workers which come into effect on 29 February 2008. 

DBERR publishes statement of forthcoming regulations  

The DBERR  has published its annual statement setting out the legislation that will be introduced in 2008, together with other key activity by DBERR that will impact on 2008 and beyond. Among the measures are pilot schemes looking at alternative forms of dispute resolution to prepare for the abolition of the statutory dispute resolution procedures brought about by the Employment Bill.

Increase in limits on tribunal awards 

From 1 February 2008, under the Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order 2007, a number of limits applying to tribunal awards and other amounts payable under employment legislation will increase. The new limits will be applicable where the event that gives rise to the award or payment occurs on or after 1 February 2008.

Proposed new statutory pay rates announced 

Proposed new rates of statutory sick pay, statutory maternity pay, statutory paternity pay and statutory adoption pay for 2008-09 have been announced by HM Revenue and Customs. Subject to Parliament’s approval, SSP increases to £74.50, while the standard SMP, SPP and SAP rate increases to £117.18 

New guide to informing and consulting employees

Business Link, the Government website containing practical advice for businesses, has published a  new guide entitled “Inform and consult your employees”. The guide was produced with the DBERR and explains why good communications are important and the practical ways and means for doing so.

Consultation on use and sharing of personal information 

A consultation exercise about how personal information is used and shared in the public and private sectors has been launched by the Ministry of Justice. The consultation forms part of an independent review into the use and sharing of personal information announced by the Prime Minister following the loss by a Government department of millions of peoples' private details.

Pensions Bill amended to prevent pensions discrimination  

As the Pensions Bill received its second reading in Parliament this month, it has emerged that the Government intends to introduce an amendment which will prevent employers asking applicants about their pension arrangements at job interviews and provide tough sanctions if individuals are discriminated against because they intend to opt-in to the new personal account scheme. 

Redundancy announcement leads to meltdown 

Police were called in to free the British director of an ice cream factory in Saint-Dizier, France, this month, when he was held hostage overnight by angry workers after he announced plans for 250 redundancies. He escaped his captors only after police stormed the building.