Employment law changes to be aware of in 2024

As 2023 draws to a close, our Employment team outlines a number of employment law changes that you should be aware of as we enter into 2024.

New Carer’s Leave Regulations 2024

The draft Carer’s Leave Regulations 2024 have been laid before Parliament and if approved, are due to come into force on the 6 April 2024. This means that employees will be able to apply for up to one week of unpaid carer’s leave, in any 12-month period. This will be a day one right and applies to employees who have a dependent with a long-term care need and those who want to be absent from work to arrange or provide care for that dependent.

Flexible Working (Amendment) Regulations 2023

The Flexible Working (Amendment) Regulations 2023 have been laid before Parliament and if approved, are due to come into force on the 6 April 2024. The right to make a flexible working application shall become a day one right. However, it is important to note that this is a right to request, not a right to flexible working.

Maternity Leave, Adoption Leave and Shared Parental Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2024

Currently, employees who are on maternity leave, adoption leave or shared parental leave whose roles are at risk of redundancy should be offered in priority any suitable alternative employment which may be available over other employees who are also at risk of redundancy. Subject to Parliamentary approval, the new legislation will impose the additional protections from the 6 April 2024 below:

• From the date an employee informs their employer about their pregnancy, the redundancy protection will apply. The protected period will end 18 months after the expected week of birth of their child, unless the employee informs the employer of the date of their child.
• For adoption leave, the protected period ends 18 months after the child is placed with their new family or enters the UK.
• For shared parental leave, employees who take 6 or more consecutive weeks of shared parental leave, the protected period will end 18 months after the placement or birth of the child.

Contact us

If you have any enquiries or your business requires HR assistance, Annalie King, Head of our Employment Law team or Rosie Brighty Employment Paralegal at Kerseys Solicitors in Ipswich 01473 213311 or Kerseys Solicitors in Colchester 01206 584584 or email [email protected].

Kerseys Solicitors are just a click away visit our website and click “Call Me Back” and a member of our employment law team will be happy to contact you at a time that is convenient to you.