D3 Employee Solutions
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 Paternity Leave

 

In respect of babies born or adopted after 3rd April 2011 partners of new mothers or one of the adoptive parents will be able to take up to 6 months Additional Paternity Leave, 'borrowed' from any maternity leave/adoption leave the mother/other adopter has not taken.   

The extra Paternity Leave will be paid at the standard rate of maternity pay but only for the balance of the 39 weeks’ maternity/adoption pay not taken

  

Medical Certificates

 

From April 2010 'Fit Notes' replaced 'Sick Notes' Now after more than 7 calendar days of sickness a doctor will issue a certificate which indicates either that the employee is 'unfit for work' or 'may be fit for work' and may suggest adjustments that may help a return to work.

 

Employers are advised to amend their absence management procedures

 

Disciplinary & Grievance Procedures

 

From 6th April 2009, the Statutory Disputes Procedures were repealed. These required employers to follow a three-step minimum procedure when dismissing an employee and an employee to follow a minimum level of grievance procedure before making an Employment Tribunal complaint other than unfair dismissal.

 

However, employers must still follow the revised ACAS code or run the risk of losing at an Employment Tribunal with enhanced compensation to the claimant. It's essential that you have written Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures in place.  See the new ACAS Code

 

Our Recommendations:

 

1. Talk to us about reviewing your disciplinary and grievance policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the new ACAS Code.

2. Talk to us if you don't have written procedures

3. Consider our training

 

End of Compulsory Retirement

 

The government has confirmed that, as from October 2011, the so-called default retirement age (DRA) will be scrapped and therefore in most cases it will become unlawful for employers to insist that an employee must retire. This comes on top of indications that they will speed up the timetable for increasing the age at which individuals can take the state pension from 65 to 68

 

Over time this will inevitably mean an aging of workforces and organisations need to have policies and practices in place to reflect this, including tightening up perforamnce and capability management processes (across all age groups) and adopting flexible retirement policies.

 

 

 

 The D3 Employee Solutions Briefing

 

We issue a monthly Briefing aimed at briefing employers about employee's rights. So far we have covered:

Issue 1  Employment Status and Contracts of Employment

Issue 2  Unfair dismissal & Retirement Rights

Issue 3  Discrimination in Employment

Issue 4  Managing Staff Absence

Issue 5  What's new in 2010

Issue 6  Pre-employment references

Issue 7  Changes to Medical Certificates

Issue 8  'Fit Notes' and Paternity Leave

Issue 9  Contracts and Disciplinary/Grievance Procedures

Issue 10 World Cup Sickies and Free 'Grow Your Organisation' seminar

Issue 11 A Short Guide to Redundancy

Issue 12 The end of Compulsory Retirement

Click here to see any or all Briefings

 

Our Briefing is managed by greenmessage.  If you would like help with your e-marketing, contact them via www.greenmessage.co.uk Tell them D3 Employee Solutions sent you