Employment Law (UK)

Individual Labour Law

• Looks at the rights and responsibilities of individuals:
• Equal Pay Act 1970 – both sexes treated equally re: pay
• Sex Discrimination Act, 1974 – cant discriminate on grounds of sex or marital status
• Race Relations Act, 1976 - cant discriminate in relation to colour, race, nationality or ethnic origin
• Disability Discrimination Act, 1994 – cant discriminate due to disability
• Working Time Regulations, 1998 – this sets a limit on the number of hours worked per week

Collective Labour Law

• Looks at the operation of trade unions, industrial relations and collective bargaining:
• Employment Act 1980 – employees aren't obliged to negotiate with unions
• Trade Union Act 1984
• Employment Act 1982, 1988, 1990
• Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act, 1993
• Minimum Wage Act, 1998
• Employment Relations Act, 2000

Impact of Employment Legislation

• There are positive and negative impacts
• Can act as a motivator to the workforce
• Reduction in power of trade unions has increased workforce flexibility
• Foreign investment has increased as legislation is employment friendly
• Increases costs
• Businesses need to employ non productive workers to manage the policies
• These effects can be more detrimental on smaller firms

Work Councils

• These are forums where workers and management meet to discuss issues concerning work e.g. working conditions, pay, training
• Usually members are elected
• Often used where there are no trade unions