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10 news/legal expert Employment law – what’s new?


October is the time of year when many employment law changes come into force, writes Gemma Cook, partner solicitor at Glanvilles LLP


It is important to make sure that your policies and procedures are up to date and you are aware of the changes that occurred on October 1, 2014. The main changes are:


National minimum wage


• Standard hourly rate increased from £6.31 to £6.50


• Young workers rate increased from £3.72 to £3.79


• Apprenticeship rate increased from £4.91 to £5.08.


Time off to accompany pregnant partner to antenatal appointments


Employees or agency workers who are in a ’qualifying relationship’ with a pregnant woman will have the right to take unpaid time off to accompany the woman to up to two antenatal appointments. Each appointment can be up to a maximum of six and a half hours. To be in a ’qualifying relationship’ the employee or agency worker will


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need to satisfy one or more of the criteria below:


• They are the pregnant woman’s husband or civil partner.


• They live with the woman (whether in a heterosexual or same-sex relationship) in an enduring family relationship and are not a relative of the woman.


• They are the expected child’s father.


• They are one of a same-sex couple who is to be treated as the child’s other parent under the assisted reproduction provisions in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (HFEA 2008).


• They are the potential applicant for a parental order under the HFEA 2008 in relation to a child who is expected to be born to a surrogate mother.


You can request that the employee provides you with written confirmation:


• That the employee or agency worker has a qualifying relationship with the pregnant woman or expected child.


• That the purpose of taking the time off is to accompany a pregnant woman to an antenatal appointment.


• That the appointment has been made on the advice of a registered doctor, registered midwife or registered nurse.


• Of the date and time of the appointment.


You can refuse the request if you believe it is reasonable to do so, however there is no guidance as yet as to what would be ’reasonable’.


Power to order equal pay audits


Tribunals will now have the power to order employers found to be in breach of equal pay laws to carry out full equal pay audits. It is therefore important to ensure


Expanding law firm moves to new premises


Leading Solent law firm Trethowans is relocating its Southampton office to Botleigh Grange Office Campus at Hedge End.


All 70 staff are moving from their current office at Rockstone Place, to the newly-leased 23,560 sq ft Pavilion development.


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West Wing, Cams Hall, Fareham, Hampshire PO16 8AB Tel. (01329) 282841


Langstone Gate, Solent Road, Havant, Hampshire PO9 1TR Tel. (023) 9249 2300


The Courtyard, St. Cross Business Park, Newport IW PO30 5BF Tel. (01983) 527878


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Fortis House, Westridge Business Park, Ryde IW PO33 1QT Tel. (01983) 566980


Managing partner Simon Rhodes commented: “We are delighted to have expanded to the point that we have simply outgrown our current Southampton office. We needed to move to bigger, modern premises with great car parking, and our new office does all three.


“Being based in Hedge End will allow us to get into Southampton very easily and also offers us a bigger geographical reach across the whole Solent region.


“Our new office building reflects the growth and development in the firm and will suit us very well.


In the past few years, we


have grown and developed the firm, by investing heavily in Southampton and Salisbury, and by sponsoring events such as the South Coast Business of the Year Awards.


“We have also invested in lots of high-calibre lawyers. With Southampton partners such as Mike Watson, Nick Gent, Richard Cook, Paul Longman, Paul Eckton, Matthew Barker and Jon Kelly having joined from other Southampton-based firms in recent years, we have built a superb team here. That approach to building the firm will continue in the years to come.“


With offices in both Southampton and Salisbury, Trethowans employs a team of 145 people including 25 partners. 34 of its lawyers are individually recommended in Chambers UK guide to the legal profession, and the firm also has high rankings for its teams in The Legal 500.


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – NOVEMBER 2014


that employees of different sexes receive equal pay when they are carrying out equal work.


Making mistakes with employment practices and procedures can be costly. For expert advice and to ensure that your policies and procedures are up to date, contact Glanvilles.


Details: Gemma Cook 01983-527878 gemma.cook@glanvilles.co.uk www.glanvilles.co.uk


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