Fit notes: new rules in place from Friday 1 July 2022
From Friday 1 July, a wider range of healthcare professionals will be able to certify fit notes. The government has made changes to reduce pressure on doctors (particularly GP's) and make the process more flexible and efficient.
You can read our explainer here.
Government: no plans to introduce menopause as a protected characteristic
The Minister for Work and Pensions in the House of Lords has confirmed that the government has no current plans to introduce menopause as an additional protected characteristic in the Equality Act 2010.
The government has said that its key objective is to ensure that women going through the menopause are treated fairly at work by ensuring that employers are fully aware of the challenges faced by these women. It also says that it will consult with the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Acas to assess whether existing guidance on menopause adequately reflects the growing body of employment cases on this issue. Once it’s done this, it will look at whether improvements can be made to increase employer and employee understanding of the law.
New tribunal statistics reveal drop in number of claims
The Courts and Tribunal service have published its latest set of quarterly tribunal statistics which indicate that:
- Between November 2020 and May 2021, the number of new cases fell by 42%
- In December 2021, the number of new cases was down 51% on the November 2020 figures
In the first few months of 2022, the number of new cases has bounced back a bit. However, this data confirms that the number of new cases has fallen significantly since late 2020 and is now running below pre-COVID levels.
Trade union membership statistics for 2021 published
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has published the 2021 national statistics on trade union membership using the Labour Force Survey to provide an estimate of the levels and density of trade union membership for all UK workers. The report includes estimates presented by gender, sector, age, industry, region, and occupation, and covers union presence and collective bargaining.
New changes to ESFA’s apprenticeship programme
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) has announced its plans to improve and simplify its apprenticeships system, which is used to provide training, assess apprentices, and meet the skills needs of employers. The planned changes, which include amendments to the baseline training and assessment requirements, are due to come into effect in August 2022.
Women and Equalities Committee issue call for evidence on National Disability Strategy inquiry
Last year, the government published a policy paper setting out its National Disability Strategy. Its aim was to help to transform the everyday lives of people with disabilities, including in a work context. The Women and Equalities Committee has issued a call for evidence on this strategy, and is asking people for their views. It’s particularly keen to hear from disabled people. The deadline for submissions is Sunday 24 July 2022.
You can read more about our views on the National Disability Strategy here.
EU’s approach to artificial intelligence
The European Parliament Research Service (EPRS) has published an assessment of the EU’s legal framework on artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools in workplace management and evaluation. The key findings are that AI will become prominent in the workplace, but that this will pose a challenge for organisations, as the functionality and the utility of many forms of AI at work remain in doubt.
It makes it clear that urgent action is needed as businesses that lead in developing AI technologies will set the lines that other employers follow. You can read our views on the employment risks of using AI here.
New consultation on domestic violence statutory guidance
The Home Office launched a consultation regarding controlling or coercive behaviour statutory guidance. The guidance intends to provide information on what controlling or coercive behaviour is, when the offence applies and ways of reducing risk to the victim. While predominantly aimed at police and criminal justice agencies, the guidance may also be relevant to organisations who have a statutory duty to safeguard victims in the workplace.
The consultation closed on Saturday 25 June 2022.
Read more – July 2022
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