As businesses plan for the new year ahead, we've taken a look at what to expect in employment law in 2022.
Employment Law Bill
In the Queen's Speech in December 2019, the government announced that a new Employment Bill would be brought forward to seek to protect and enhance workers' rights post Brexit. While we still do not have a timetable for the long awaited Employment Bill, government has confirmed that it intends to bring it forward "when Parliamentary time allows" and it is anticipated that it will be published at some point in 2022.
The measures expected to be included in the Bill are wide-ranging (see Horizon Scanner) and we have highlighted some of the key developments below.
New Single Enforcement Body
In June 2021 the government published its response to the consultation on the proposal to create a single enforcement body to offer better protection for workers in relation to National Minimum Wage, holiday pay, Statutory Sick Pay, modern slavery and labour exploitation. The new Single Enforcement Body will bring three existing bodies into one organisation with wider powers to protect employment rights and improve employers' compliance.
The statutory provisions to create the new Single Enforcement Body are expected to be included in the awaited Employment Bill.
Flexible Working
The government consultation on flexible working closed last month and we now await their response. The consultation considered five key proposals: making the right to request flexible...
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