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More Parental Leave Promised by New Tory Liberal Coalition Government- 12/05/2010
Employers can expect few breaks from the new Conservative Liberal Democrat Coalition Government, as both parties promised in their manifestos to continue to strengthen the rights of working parents, according to a leading Wolverhampton employment lawyer.
Sean McGovern, a solicitor in the Employment Department of FBC Manby Bowdler LLP, says that the new Government seems set to increase time off for parents with children.
“In their manifesto the both the Tories and the Liberal Democrats said that they would extend the right to request flexible working initially to every parent with a child under 18, with the long term aim of extending this right to all employees. They also plan to introduce a new system of flexible maternity and paternity leave, enabling parents to share up to 12 months’ leave between them,” says Mr McGovern.
“They also said that they would extend or abolish the default retirement age of 65. As part of the deal making process that has seen the two parties share power the Liberal Democrats have agreed with the Tories proposed annual cap on the number of non-EU immigrants entering the UK. Collectively these measures will potentially increase employment costs.
“Perhaps the only good news for employers are the Tory proposals to raise the limit of deposits and cost awards at Employment Tribunals to discourage weak or vexatious claims being brought by employees, and to rein in the effect of the Transfer of Undertakings and Protection of Employment Regulations (TUPE) to give companies more freedom to outsource work and change service providers.
“Changes in the employment field are on the horizon. The new government will want to make its mark and follow through with its election pledges. The only question is whether the UK’s considerable budget deficit will limit its ability to implement those changes.”
With 39 partners, FBC Manby Bowdler is the fourth largest law firm in the West Midlands. The firm has offices in Wolverhampton, Willenhall, Telford, Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth.