Reminder: Employment Law Changes from 1 October

Employers need to be aware of the following employment law changes coming into force on 1 October:

• Time off to accompany a pregnant woman to ante-natal appointments – expectant fathers and the partner of a pregnant woman will have the right to take unpaid time off to accompany a pregnant woman to up to two ante-natal appointments. Further information on this new right can be found here. Employers need to update their policies to reflect this new right; 
• Equal pay audits – employment tribunals will order employers found to be in breach of pay discrimination laws to carry out an equal pay audit. Further information can be found here;  
• National minimum wage increases – the adult rate increases to £6.50 per hour. Further information on the new rates can be found here; and  
• Removal of the two year qualifying period for unfair dismissal where dismissal is connected with the employee’s membership of the Reserved Forces. Small and medium-sized employers will also receive payments if reservists in their employment are called out for service.