Posts Tagged ‘sick pay’

Tuesday 6th April 2010 is a key day for all employers and HR professionals as it sees the implementation of a number of new laws and changes in existing employment law.  Below is an overview:

Fit notes

Sick notes will be replaced by a fit-note system under which GPs can suggest adjustments to an employee’s role and/or workplace to enable them to return to work. The system was recommended in 2008 by Dame Carol Black, the national director for work and health, in her review of sickness absence.

Requests in relation to study or training

Employees will have a legal right to make a request in relation to study or training – for example, time off work to study.  The right is modelled on the procedure allowing parents and carers to make a request for flexible working.  A refusal of a request must be on one or more grounds specified in the legislation.

Additional paternity leave

Additional paternity leave will see fathers allowed to take up to 26 weeks’ paternity leave in the first year of a child’s life.  This will, in effect, allow fathers to share maternity leave with the mother, who will be able to return to work after six months, leaving the father to take what is left of the 12 months’ maternity leave.

Pensions

The minimum pension age increases from 50 to 55 unless retirement is on the grounds of serious ill health, the member has a protected pension age, or the member started taking benefits before 6 April 2020. Meanwhile, the number of years needed to receive a full basic state pension reduces to 30. The state pension retirement age for women born after 6 April 2010 will rise to 65 between 2010 and 2020.

Statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay

From 4 April 2010, the standard rates of statutory maternity pay, statutory paternity pay and statutory adoption pay will increase from £123.06 to £124.88.  Statutory sick pay will continue at the rate of £79.15 per week.

For more information and for answers to key questions visit Personnel Today.

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