The Queen announced the government’s legislative plans for the coming year in her speech on Wednesday, which included three important employment law developments: the introduction of the Welfare Reform Bill, the Equality Bill and flexible working proposals.

The Welfare Reform Bill is designed to help the long-term unemployed to return to work. It will introduce more stringent tests for those claiming benefits, and may cut benefits for those who refuse to look for work or sign up for training courses.

The government’s Equality Bill is intended to harmonise laws on sex, race and religious discrimination. One of the most significant elements of the bill is the measures that it will introduce to achieve pay equality between men and women. The bill will ban “secrecy clauses” in employment contracts, allowing employees to compare their pay rates and challenge employers who unfairly discriminate between men and women.

The announcement of flexible working proposals came as a surprise to some, as there had been speculation that the measures would not be included in the 2009 legislative process due to the current difficult financial climate. The new proposals will give parents of children up to the age of 16 the right to request flexible working from their employers.

Employment law is a complex and ever-evolving legal domain that can be difficult to negotiate. Ashby Cohen are specialist employment law solicitors with many years of experience in representing and advising both employers and employees in a wide range of employment situations. If you are facing legal issues in your workplace, contact Ashby Cohen today for a free initial telephone consultation.

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