The government endorsed proposed changes to the tribunals system which it said would make procedures faster and clearer, and provide more support on prevention and alternative dispute resolution.
Source: Moving Forward: The Report of the Employment Tribunal System Taskforce - Government response, Department of Trade and Industry (0870 150 2500) and Lord Chancellor's Department
Links: Response (pdf) | DTI press release | Taskforce report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Nov
A report argued for abolishing employment tribunals and allowing employers and employees to 'contract freely' without interference from government regulation.
Source: J. R. Shackleton, Employment Tribunals: Their Growth and the Case for Radical Reform, Institute of Economic Affairs (020 7799 8900)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Nov
Researchers found that small firms' awareness of individual employment rights is highest for the national minimum wage and maternity leave, and lowest for parental leave.
Source: Robert Blackburn and Mark Hart, Small Firms Awareness and Knowledge of Individual Employment Rights, Employment Relations Research Series 14, Department of Trade and Industry (020 7215 5000)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Aug
The government said it accepted, in whole or in part, all of the recommendations in a task force report on employment regulation. It announced measures to help firms understand and implement employment regulations.
Source: Government Response to Better Regulation Task Force Report 'Employment Regulation: Striking a Balance', Department of Trade and Industry (020 7215 5000) | Press release 6.8.2002, Department of Trade and Industry
Links: Response | Press release
Date: 2002-Aug
The government published the terms of reference for a review of the operation of the Employment Relations Act 1999, including statutory union recognition and derecognition procedures.
Source: Review of the Employment Relations Act 1999: Terms of Reference, Department of Trade and Industry (0870 150 2500)
Links: Terms of Reference
Date: 2002-Jul
The Employment Bill received Royal Assent. From April 2003, maternity and paternity rights will be improved. Later in 2003, new minimum standards for disciplinary and grievance procedures will come into force, including a requirement for employees to raise grievances with their employer before applying to a tribunal.
Source: Employment Act 2002, Department of Trade and Industry, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Act | DTI press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123, paragraph 7.2
Date: 2002-Jul
A pamphlet assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights, and concluded that the rights serve little practical purpose, as they are largely unenforceable.
Source: Keith Ewing, The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights: Waste of Time or Wasted Opportunity?, Institute of Employment Rights (020 7498 6919)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Jul
The government published a draft code designed to ensure that where councils choose a private or voluntary sector partner, this is on the basis of raising the level of service rather than driving down the terms and conditions of employees. Business leaders welcomed the code's 'flexibility'.
Source: Draft Circular on Best Value and Performance Improvement, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 4112) | Press release 23.7.02, Confederation of British Industry (020 7395 8247)
Links: Draft Circular (pdf) | ODPM press release | CBI press release
Date: 2002-Jul
The government began consultation on a European Commission proposal that temporary agency workers be treated no less favourably than comparable permanent workers in the same enterprise.
Source: Public Consultation on Commission Proposal for a Directive on the Working Conditions of Temporary (Agency) Workers, Department of Trade and Industry (020 7215 5177)
Links: Consultation Document
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/2, Digest 118, paragraph 7.6
Date: 2002-Jul
The government began consultation on whether to extend statutory employment rights to those currently excluded from the definition of 'employees', including office holders (for example some clergy), agency workers and some casual workers.
Source: Employment Status in Relation to Statutory Employment Rights, Department of Trade and Industry (020 7215 5177)
Links: Discussion Document (pdf)
Date: 2002-Jul
An official taskforce on modernising employment tribunals called for a shift in work focus towards early resolution of disputes; highlighted the need for better co-ordination and consistency; and urged the government to improve funding for the system.
Source: Employment Tribunal System Taskforce, Moving Forward: The Report of the Employment Tribunal System Taskforce, Department of Trade and Industry (020 7215 5000)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/1, Digest 121, paragraph 7.2
Date: 2002-Jul
An official report examined ways of guaranteeing employment rights without excessive regulation.
Source: Better Regulation Task Force, Employment Regulation: Striking a Balance, Cabinet Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf)
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124 (paragraph 10.1)
Date: 2002-May