Weekly issue 93

NEWS IN BRIEF

The Employment Act 2008, which received Royal Assent on 13 November, will repeal the 2004 statutory dispute resolution procedures. It is likely to become effective as of April 2009.

NOT JUSTIFIABLE

The law says that employees on fixed term contracts become permanent after four years, unless their employer can justify extending them.

AN UNEXPECTED TWIST

The Employment Rights Act 1996 gives employees the right to time off if something “unexpected” happens to their arrangements for caring for a dependant.