The Employment Act 2002

The Employment Act 2002 received Royal Assent on 8th July 2002 and is expected to come into force in April 2003.

The Act evidences the Government's commitment towards fairness and partnership at work and the two major area likely to have the most significant impact on employers are those relating to working parents and dispute resolution.

The major changes include:-

• An increase in maternity leave for working mothers to six months paid and a further six months unpaid leave.
  
  
• An increase in the rate of Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance from £75.00 to £100.00 per week.
  
  
• The introduction for adoptive parents of six months paid and a further six months unpaid adoption leave.
  
  
• The introduction of a new right to flexible work for qualifying employees with children under six.
  
  
• The requirement for all employers without exception to operate an internal statutory grievance, dismissal and disciplinary procedure which will be implied into all contracts of employment and which, if not followed, will render a dismissal automatically unfair.
  
  
• An obligation on employers to provide a written statement of terms and conditions of employment with in two months of commencement of employment and failure to do so may result in compensation to the employee of up to two weeks pay.

Employers would be advised to therefore review their grievance and disciplinary procedures now with a view to taking appropriate action to bring them into line with the Act.