Employment Law Updates

17th August 2022

With some recent updates to UK employment legislation, we outline below some of the changes that business leaders should be aware of:-

Fit Notes

Fit notes are usually required for SSP where an employee has been off work for more than 7 days. Legal changes from 1 July 2022 now allows a wider range of registered healthcare professionals (nurses, pharmacists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists) in England, Scotland and Wales to issue fit notes.

Prior to this change only doctors had the authority to sign the fit notes.

The change has been welcomed as it eases the burden on GPs. In light of this change, employers should consider if the policies ought to be updated.

Menopause In The Workplace

The government has responded to an independent report commissioned by the Minister for Employment on the menopause and employment.

The government is of the view that changes are not required to the Equality Act 2010.

Menopause is not a protected characteristic under the Act, however if an employee is treated unfairly because of their menopause symptoms then this could be discrimination if related to a protected characteristic such as age, disability and sex.

Holiday entitlement for part-year workers

The Supreme Court has confirmed that holiday for part-year workers or permanent zero hours should not be pro-rated under the Working Time Regulations.

A part-year worker on a permanent contract is entitled to 5.6 weeks’ holiday entitlement.

For employers this means that contractual arrangements and holiday pay practices for part-year workers should be reviewed in line with the court’s ruling, and an audit to consider how workers’ pay is calculated for their holiday.

Contact our experienced Employment Law solicitors for further legal advice