Changes to VAT rules on salary sacrifice arrangements take effect on January 1st. Employers must respond by January 31st to a government call for evidence on collective redundancies and TUPE regulations. The forward planner outlines upcoming employment law changes and key court cases and judgments in early 2012 related to issues like statutory pay increases, parental leave, discrimination, and unfair dismissal qualifications.

1. Employment law – what to expect
Changes to VAT on salary-sacrifice arrangements come into Deadline for responding to Government’s call for evidence on
force on 1 January. TUPE and collective redundancies is 31 January.
January 2012
Clyde & Co LLP v Meister v Speech Birmingham City Seldon v Clarkson United States of Atrill v Valuation
Winkelhof Design Carrier Council v Akhtar Jakes and Wright; America v Nolan Office Agency
Court of Appeal Systems GmbH Court of Appeal to Homer v Chief CJEU case on duty EAT will look at
considering Advocate General consider whether Constable of to consult in mass whether a length of
whether of CJEU to give equal pay claimants West Yorkshire redundancy service pay
employment opinion on can rely on Police situations criterion
contract clause whether, under EU comparators at Supreme Court discriminated
requiring parties to discrimination law, different considering against women
refer disputes to unsuccessful job establishments with justification of
arbitrator was void candidates are the same employer compulsory
in respect of entitled to find out where there is no retirement and
discrimination and whether another single source whether it was age
whistleblowing applicant obtained responsible for pay discriminatory to
claims the post and why rates make promotion
dependent on
having law degree
2012 Forward planner Key
1 February Statutory redundancy pay (and other compensation amounts) increase: cap on week’s pay = £430; max
compensatory award = £72,300 Hearing
8 March EU deadline for government to increase parental leave to 4 months. More likely implementation date is 6
April Jud gment
1 April Maternity, paternity and adoption pay standard rates increase to £135.45 per week
Othe r
6 April Statutory sick pay standard rate increases to £85.85 per week
6 April Qualifying service for unfair dismissal claims expected to increase to 2 years
1 October Pensions auto-enrolment and minimum employer contributions take effect for bigger employers
1 October Any minimum wage increases take effect