The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform introduces legislative changes twice a year – April and October - to make it easier for employers and employees to keep abreast of the changes.
The following are effective from April 2009.
- On 1 April, the statutory entitlement to paid holiday goes up from 24 days per year to 28 days
- On 5 April, the standard rate of statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay increases from £117.18 to £123.06 per week
- On 6 April, the Employment Act 2008 introduces changes allowing trade unions to expel or exclude an individual on the basis of their membership of a political party
- On 6 April, the Employment Act 2008 repeals the statutory dispute resolution regulations and clarifies and strengthens the enforcement framework for the National Minimum Wage
- On 6 April, the revised statutory ACAS code of practice on disciplinary and grievance procedures becomes effective
- On 6 April, statutory sick pay increases from £75.40 to £79.15 per week
- The Government says it intends to lay regulations to come into force in April 2009 to extend the right to request flexible working to parents of children up to the age of 16