The new time limit applies to all redundancies where the proposal to dismiss is made on or after 6 April 2013. This means that the changes will not apply to consultations which have already begun and are still on-going on 6th April. For dismissals of 20-99 employees, the consultation minimum remains at 30 days.
The new legislation confirms that employees whose fixed-term contracts are coming to an end by reason other than redundancy will not ‘count’ towards the total number of employees. Employees whose fixed term contracts are therefore being terminated on the grounds of redundancy will need to be included. However, this change could mean the difference between consulting for 30 days, 45 days or not at all. Voluntary redundancies will still need to be counted.
As before, there is no specified time limit for consultation to take place and employers should be aware that the purpose of consultation has not changed. Consultation should therefore still be carried out in good faith with the intention to be meaningful. This could mean delaying dismissals to allow for longer consultation in certain circumstances, particularly if employers need to allow for election processes before the minimum period starts. In addition, the upper limit for the protective award where employers fail to consult remains at 90 days’ pay.
In light of the changes, ACAS have produced non-statutory guidance which sets out case studies and provides a ten-point checklist for handling collective redundancies. The Guide is intended to offer clarity for employers regarding collective redundancy, distinguishing between what ‘must’ be done and what ‘should’ be done in an attempt to highlight to employers the strict legal obligations.
The code can be found here.
For more detailed information on the changes, or for assistance in planning a restructure within your organisation, please contact Kate Watkins on 0121 212 7494 or kate.watkins@anthonycollins.com.
Would you know how to manage an escalating social media storm? Are you confident in your plans and policies for responding to, and managing, a prominent ‘scandal’ in your charity?
The Civil Partnership (Opposite-Sex Couples) Regulations 2019 were made on 5 November 2019 and came into force on 2 December 2019.
HMRC’s approach to underpayment of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) is getting tougher and shows no sign of abating.
HMRC’s approach to underpayment of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) is getting tougher and shows no sign of abating.
Now 2020 is here and we have welcomed in the new decade, it’s time to welcome in changes regards the contents of employee’s statement of particulars.
In December 2019, the Care Quality Commission brought its first prosecution against a local authority
The CIL was introduced under the Planning Act 2008 and the CIL Regulations 2010, which came into force in April 2010. CIL is a non-negotiable tax charged by local authorities on new developments.
The Court of Appeal’s recent decision is likely to be unwelcome news for any cash-strapped councils seeking to fund the costs of taxi enforcement through licence fees.
It is important that trustees are aware of the law relating to people who are transgender and those who identify as non-binary so that they can ensure compliance.
Earlier this year, the Charity Commission published its inquiry report into Oxfam GB, following allegations about events in Haiti in 2010 involving its staff members.
To receive invitations to our events, as well as information and articles on legal issues and sector developments that are of interest to you, please sign up to Newsroom.