The 2012 Queen’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament in early May was unusual not only in its brevity, but also in that it touched on a number of important HR issues in the UK.
The somewhat controversial Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill has been designed to give employers greater confidence when hiring new staff—making it easier to dismiss them. The idea being that this would encourage ‘settlement agreements’ so workers could be paid off by consent, rather than everything going through labour tribunals. All claims to employment tribunals would now have to be lodged with the UK Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) to help increase the chances of a mediated agreement.
Just prior to thousands of public sector union members being set to strike over their pensions, the Queen also confirmed that legislation would be introduced to reform public service pensions. She added that this would be done in line with the recommendations of the independent commission on public service pensions.
Greater flexibility is also planned regarding maternity and paternity leave to allow both mothers and fathers to share in the care of newborn children. The Queen said, “Measures will be proposed to make parental leave more flexible, so both parents may share parenting responsibilities and balance work and family commitments.”
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
