By Paula Fisher
December 14th 2023
By Paula Fisher
December 14th 2023
2024 will see a number of changes in employment law.
Three of these changes have now been laid before parliament and will be introduced in April 2024. Some of the regulations remain draft so may be subject to change.
1. Flexible Working Flexible Working (Amendment) Regulations 2023
From April 2024 flexible working will become a Day One right rather than the current requirement for an employee to have 26 weeks service before they can make a request for flexible working.
2. Pregnancy Family Leave Protection from Redundancy Maternity Leave, Adoption Leave and Shared Parental Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2024
This new legislation extends the protection for parents on maternity leave, adoption leave or shared parental leave in the case of redundancy situation whereby they should be offered first refusal of any suitable alternative employment which may be available in a redundancy situation.
The new legislation extends the time period of this protection as follows:
▪ For maternity – the protected period will cover pregnancy, alongside 18 months from the first day of the estimated week of childbirth.
▪ For adoption – the protected period will cover 18 months from placement for adoption.
▪ For shared parental leave – the protected period will cover 18 months from birth, provided that the parent has taken a period of at least 6 consecutive weeks of shared parental leave.
3. Carers Leave Carer’s Leave Regulations 2024
These regulations set out new rights for employees to apply for Carers Leave and the procedures to be followed. Carer’s leave is unpaid.
Carers leave will be a Day One right and will apply to employees who have a dependent with a long care need.
Employees will be able to take one week in any 12-month period and can apply for leave in half days, full-days, consecutive or non-consecutive days.
There are procedures relating to applying for leave and leave can be postponed by the employer in certain situations. These procedures will be set out in a new Carers policy that will be available on YourHR.guide prior to the introduction of the new rights and you will be notified when this policy becomes available.
Next Steps
Further guidance on all of the above will be made available on YourHR.guide prior to the introduction of the new regulations. You will be notified when this is available.
If you are a user of YourHR.space, the above changes will automatically be actioned on YourHR.space and changes communicated to employees prior to or on the date the change takes place.
If you need guidance or advice on this matter or any other HR or employment law matter, please call Practical HR on 01702 216573 or email [email protected]