New Year, New Employment Laws

Compensation Limits

The limit on a week's pay increases from £310 to £330 and the maximum unfair dismissal compensatory award rises from £60,600 to £63,000.

The new limits apply to dismissals on or after 1 February 2008.

Information & Consultation

The thresholds for the purposes of the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004 and the Occupational Pension Schemes (Consultation by Employers) Regulations 2006 will fall to 50 employees on 6 April 2008.

Amendment to Sex Discrimination Act

The Government has announced it will amend the 2005 Employment Equality Regulations by February 2008 so as to comply with the High Court's ruling last year that the UK was not in compliance with the amended Equal Treatment Directive. This makes some changes to the wording of the legislation, clarifying the definition of harassment and 'recasting' certain sections to clarify women's rights relating to maternity leave.

Corporate Manslaughter & Corporate Homicide Act 2007

This will come into force on 6 April 2008.

New Bills Before Parliament

The Employment Bill was published on 6 December and is expected to be an Act by the end of summer this year.

Two new private members bills are also before Parliament - the Temporary and Agency Workers (Equal Treatment) Bill and the Private Equity (Transfer of Undertakings and Protection of Employment) Bill. Their names explain their purpose. Without Government support they are unlikely to become Acts.

European Union

In December, the UK again blocked the Working Time Directive and the latest draft proposal for giving temporary workers equality with permanent employees. Neither is likely to go away as a result.

The new constitutional treaty - now called the Treaty of Lisbon has been signed so the Charter of Fundamental Rights is...