Next steps in review of employment law

The Government has announced new areas that it will consider reforming as part of its review of employment red tape – including collective redundancy consultation periods, the Transfer Undertakings Protection of Employment Regulations (TUPE) and compensation for discrimination awarded by employment tribunals.

Employment Relations Minister Edward Davey said: “The areas we are reviewing are priorities for employers. We want to make it easier for businesses to take on staff and grow.

“We will be looking carefully at the arguments for reform. Fairness for individuals will not be compromised – but where we can make legislation easier to understand, improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy we will.”

As part of the review of employment law, consultations have recently closed on simplifying the Employment Tribunal system and extending the period before an unfair dismissal claim can be brought. An independent review of the system for managing sickness absence has been commissioned and a review of the compliance and enforcement regimes for employment law has been launched.

The Government also plans to launch a consultation on plans to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees and introduce a new system of shared parental leave from 2015.