New April employment laws bring major ‘day one’ rights that all employers must prepare for
Staff beginning jobs next week will have employment rights from their first day – and businesses are being urged to ensure they are prepared for this.
Changes coming into force through the UK Government’s Employment Rights Act and other legislation will include employees being entitled to sick pay and paternity leave from day one of their new role with no service requirement.
These new ‘day one’ rights are a significant change in UK employment law and businesses cannot afford to overlook them. Every employer will need to be aware of the changes coming into effect and update their HR processes to reflect them.
Failure to comply could lead to costly disputes. If anyone is unsure of what they need to do, they would be wise to seek professional advice.
What to expect and when
Paternity leave: From April 6, paternity leave (but not pay) will become a ‘day one’ right, meaning employees can give notice as soon as they start work. Previously, employees had to complete 26 weeks of service before being eligible for this leave.
Ordinary parental leave rules are also being relaxed, moving from a one-year qualifying period to immediate eligibility from the first day of employment.
In addition, bereaved fathers and partners will now be entitled to take up to 52 weeks of unpaid leave if the mother or primary adopter passes away – a significant expansion of existing rights.
Statutory sick pay (SSP)...
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