1 January
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Deregulation
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The requirement to have a Home School Agreement has been abolished although governing boards can continue to adopt one if they choose.
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1 January
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Whistleblowing
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“Prescribed persons” are required to produce annual reports of whistleblowing
disclosures (without identifying the worker who made the disclosure, their
employer or other person about whom the disclosure was made).
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11 January
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Zero hours contracts
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Regulations came into force which provides the right to unfair dismissal
protection for employees working under a zero hours contract, who are dismissed
because the employee has failed to comply with an exclusivity clause.
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February
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Recruitment agencies
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The Government intends to reform the regulation of recruitment agencies.
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1 April
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National Living Wage
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National Living Wage for workers aged 25 and over will be introduced at the
rate of £7.20 per hour.
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6 April
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Statutory payments for SMP
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There will be no increase in the weekly rates. These will remain as follows:
- SMP, SAP, PP and ShPP - £139.58 per week
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Sick pay - £88.45 per week.
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Expected: April
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New unpaid award penalties
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Businesses that do not pay Tribunal awards made against them will be subject to a penalty notice of 50% of outstanding amount, subject to a £100 minimum and £5,000 maximum.
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Expected: May
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Prevent risk assessments
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Relevant HE bodies must send HEFCE further documentation about their prevent risk assessment and policies and procedures for topics covered by the statutory prevent guidance.
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Date TBC
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Trade unions
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Proposed trade union reforms expected to take effect.
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Date TBC
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Exit payments for apprenticeships
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The Enterprise Bill 2015-16 will introduce:
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A £95,000 cap on exit payments made to public sector workers to end
six-figure payoffs
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Regulations to restrict the use of the word “apprenticeship” to
Government-accredited schemes and to increase the number of public
sector apprenticeships offered.
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Date TBC
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Gender Pay Reporting
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Section 78 of the Equality Act 2010 enables the Government to make
regulations requiring employers with over 250 employees to publish their gender
pay gap.
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Date TBC
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Immigration |
The Immigration Bill once enacted will provide that an employer who has reasonable cause to believe an employee is working in breach of their immigration permissions could face a fine of up to £20,000 and a maximum of five years in prison. |
Date TBC
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Postgraduate loans
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Response by the Government to its consultation on the postgraduate loan scheme due to be introduced for the 2016/17 academic year. The Chancellor in his Autumn Statement said that the scheme would be extended to all students under the age of 60.
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Date TBC
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Student loans
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Publication by the Government of details of its scheme of loans for 19-23 year olds taking courses at levels 3 and 4, and for those aged 19 and over taking course at levels 5 and 6.
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