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EARLY CONCILIATION COMES TO NORTHERN IRELAND 27 JANUARY 2020
Following a change in employment law, the Labour Relations Agency will provide a new service to employees, employers, and their representatives.
Discrimination when hiring
Fair treatment is not just a moral and legal obligation but makes good business sense. Employers who treat employees fairly will be best placed to recruit and retain staff in an increasingly diverse and competitive labour market.
No 211 The Social Security (Maternity Allowance) (Earnings) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015
These Regulations come into operation on 6/4/15 and they essentially amend the Social Security (Maternity Allowance) (Earnings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 in consequence of section 2 of and Schedule 1 to the National Insurance Contributions Act 2015 (c. 5).
Early Conciliation
The Labour Relations Agency provides an Early Conciliation service following a change in NI employment law which took effect on 27 January 2020. This service helps to resolve workplace disputes in a legally binding way, without the need to take a case to the Industrial or Fair Employment Tribunal. Click below for more information or to make an Early Conciliation notification.
Maternity, Paternity and Parental leave
Pregnant employees are entitled to up to one year’s maternity leave. Paternity leave is available if certain criteria are met. Parents are also entitled to 18 weeks’ unpaid leave for each child up to their 18th birthday.
No 159 The Sex Discrimination Order 1976 (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008
These Regulations make a variety of amendments to our anti-discrimination legislation as it pertains to gender and pregnancy only. As a result there is no longer a requirement for a comparator who is not pregnant when a woman is pursuing a case of discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy or maternity leave.
No 140 The Social Security (Maternity Allowance) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014
These Regulations come into effect on 18/5/14 and are derived from changes brought in by reforms under Statutory Rule 102 above. Section 35B provides an entitlement to maternity allowance for women who work with a spouse or civil partner who is engaged in self-employment.
Landmark Holiday Pay case concluded by UK Supreme Court
The long awaited decision from the Supreme Court in the case of Chief Constable of Police Service of Northern Ireland v Agnew and others [UKSC33] was passed down on the 04/10/2023.
In essence the case was about how to properly calculate holiday pay and how far back claims can go where the amount was miscalculated.
Increase of limits on Tribunal awards and payments under employment rights legislation
The Department for the Economy has made a statutory rule entitled The Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2023 (legislation.gov.uk).
The Order increases, from 6 April 2023, limits applicable to certain awards and payments under employment rights legislation in line with the Retail Prices Index.
The Department has issued a press release relating to the above changes in limits - https://www.economy-ni.gov.uk/news/department-economy-announces-annual-increase-limits-unfair-dismissal-and-redundancy-payments.
For details on the limits for previous years, please access the following link https://www.legislation.gov.uk/primary+secondary?title=The%20Employment…
Sharp rise in redundancy enquiries to the Labour Relations Agency
Our Workplace Information Service have observed a notable surge in enquiries from both employees and employers regarding redundancy.