Overview

Following their review of 2011's employment law highlights, Wragge & Co look ahead to what 2012 has in store.

2011 ended with a plethora of employment law reform announcements. Some announced reforms are coming into force this year such as the increase in the unfair dismissal qualifying period from one to two years for new recruits. Other plans are still at a formative stage, with detailed proposals expected to be announced later this year.

In the briefing, Wragge & Co provides a summary of the anticipated legislative and judicial trends for employment law which HR professionals should be aware of at the outset of 2012, including:

• unfair dismissal: doubling of qualifying period, whistleblowing, protected conversations, social media and human rights;


• resolving disputes: reform, reform, reform;


• collective redundancies: call for evidence and trigger;


• TUPE: call for evidence and our pick of the cases;


• pensions: workplace pension reform;


• executive pay: tighter restrictions;


• vetting and barring: protection of vulnerable groups and CRB checks;


• family friendly: a new age for flexible parental leave;


• working time: holidays;


• employment status: employee, worker or neither?;


• health and safety: protection from harm;


• discrimination: our pick of the cases and volunteers;


• 2012 numbers to know.

For the full details on these areas, click 'View Briefing'.