Planned legal changes in employment rights in 2023

Teachers are joining workers in other industries taking strike action, so, all eyes are on the controversial Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill being proposed by government.

If this goes through, it will change the rights of public service workers. But what other changes in employment law are on the cards in 2023?

Lawmakers are planning changes this year, and beyond, that could affect the employment law advice given to employees, personnel executives and employers.

It is important for employers to keep an eye on your company policies to avoid workplace problems in the future.

While, employees need to know about new laws which could affect their wages and rights.

Below is a summary of some of the changes on the horizon.

Pay rate rises

• – National minimum wage rates go up from 1 April 2023:
  • • – workers aged 23 and over – £10.42 per hour
    • – workers aged 21-22 – £10.18 per hour
    • – workers aged 18-20 – £7.49 per hour
    • – workers aged 16-17 – £5.28 per hour
    • – apprentice rate – £5.28 per hour.
• – Statutory sick pay – £109.40 per week.
• – Statutory maternity pay, statutory paternity pay, statutory adoption pay and statutory shared parental pay – £172.48 per week.

Changes in flexible working

If made law, the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill 2022-23 will affect the employment advice flexible working rights given by discrimination lawyers. This includes:

• • – requesting flexible working becomes a right after one day of work –  currently, it is  26 weeks
  • – employers will have to respond to a request in two months –  currently, three months
  • – two flexible working requests in a year can be made – currently, one
  • – employers will need to consult with the employee before rejecting the request.

Carers

For unpaid carers, there will be a new right to have one week of leave a year to look after a dependent with a long-term care need.

Sexual harassment

If the Workers Protection Bill becomes law, discrimination lawyers will advise employers that they have a duty to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment at work. An employee would be able to bring a third-party harassment claim against their employer after harassment by a client or customer.

Neonatal leave

Parents will be able to take up to 12 weeks neonatal leave regardless of length of service. Those with over 26 weeks’ continuous service will also have a right to neonatal care pay.

Pregnancy and maternity

The Pregnancy and Maternity Discrimination Bill will extend the special protection of maternity rights. This will cover women for longer – during pregnancy and after their return to work – when it comes to redundancy.

Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill 2023

According to the government, legislation will ensure crucial public services maintain a minimum service during industrial action, reducing risk to life and ensuring the public can still get to work.

It will affect the following sectors: health, education, fire and rescue, transport, border security, and decommissioning nuclear installations and management of radioactive waste and spent fuel.

Photo: Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Pix4free