Two of the Thames Valleys companies are teaming up to help organisations understand new sets of regulations governing age discrimination and employeesí rights. Recruitment company Allen Associates has teamed up with employment lawyers from national law firm Shoosmiths to hold a FREE breakfast briefing on 10th November with the aim of assisting those companies concerned by the implications of the proposed 2006 legislation, as well as providing a full update on new regulations coming into force this autumn.
Employers are being warned from some quarters to brace themselves for a rush of age discrimination claims when new regulations become law next October and, while this may seem a long way off, Allen Associatesí MD Kate Allen is warning companies that the necessary change in attitude is so significant that employers should tackle the issue now. ìEmployers must start to consider what actions they need to take now, as there are several areas where the new legislation will have a significant impactî, she says. ìFor example, where recruitment is concerned, specifying age limits will become unlawful and a thing of the past. Though one can argue that the new laws are a year away, the simple assertion that an employer used to discriminate but stopped with the new legislation does not make an attractive proposition.î
ìIn other areas, service-related pay and benefits will come under increasing scrutiny, and mandatory retirement is to be outlawed unless the employer can objectively justify it under stringent circumstancesî, she continues. ìUnless employers get themselves up-to-speed well in advance of the new regulations coming into force, they could find themselves in a minefield.î
New legislation is also scheduled for April 2006 which will address TUPE. ìThe Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations safeguard employeesí rights where businesses change hands between employersî, explains Allen. ìHowever, they are widely regarded as unsatisfactory as they can hamper progress, something the new laws will change. It is important that any company that may be in a position to change hands over the next year or so is completely up-to-date with the rights of its staff.î
The free Allen Associates/Shoosmiths breakfast briefing takes place at the Holiday Inn in Oxford on Thursday 10th November, starting at 8am.
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Free seminar to help address new HR legislation
Two of the Thames Valleys companies are teaming up to help organisations understand new sets of regulations governing age discrimination and employeesí rights
