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Changes to Fit Note requirements in Northern Ireland
The requirements for doctors fit notes in Northern Ireland have been amended to remove the need for a doctor to produce a fit note in ink. The change becomes live from the 6th April 2022.
The Department For Communities have explained the change here.
The legislation for the change can be found here or on our dedicated legislation pages on this website. (click the legislation button at the top of this page)
Amendment to the Working Time Regulations - Pay and Carryover of holidays
The Working Time (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 came into force on 1st January 2024 and set out the legal obligations on carry over of holiday and what constitutes pay for the purposes of calculating holiday pay.
Piece worker
Piece workers are paid for the work that they produce rather than the number of hours worked.
Giving and Accepting Notice
If the employer or employee wishes to end the employment relationship they must give each other notice.
Annual Review of Employment Law 2020
We have published the narrative and video links (part 1 and part 2) of our Annual Review of Employment Law 2020, which has been delivered through a number of partnership events by our Director of Employment Relations Services, Mark McAllister.
Misconduct and gross misconduct
Disciplinary issues arise when the employer has concerns about an employee’s conduct, absence from work or the way they are performing in their job. They may start a disciplinary procedure which could lead to disciplinary action (including dismissal in more serious cases).
Advertising the job
An employer has an obligation to ensure that recruitment advertising is carried out in a non-discriminatory manner.
Warnings and other disciplinary action
Warnings in the workplace should be part of a disciplinary process and they should be designed to allow employees to change a particular behaviour within a given timeframe. They should be given as quickly as possible after the behaviour occurs. Any sanctions should be proportionate to the alleged offence.
Trade Union duties and activities
An employee who is an official of an independent trade union which is recognised by the employer must be allowed reasonable time off with pay during working hours to:
The Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2021
This Order increases, from 6th April 2021, the limits applying to certain awards of industrial tribunals, the Fair Employment Tribunal or Labour Relations Agency statutory arbitration. Examples of these rates include the maximum amount of “a week’s pay” for the purpose of calculating a redundancy payment or various awards, including the basic or additional award of compensation for unfair dismissal is now £566. The limit on amount of guarantee payment payable to an employee in respect of any day is now £30.00. The other rates can be found in the Schedule to the Order.