There are a number of upcoming changes to legislation around managing time-off and leave. Voluntary sector legal advisor, Sandy Adirondack, offers some useful summaries of the issues involved.

• Employees’ right to request time off for training – coming in to effect from 6 April 2010 for employers with 250+ employees and from 6 April 2011 for those with fewer than 250 employees.
• Draft regulations laid before Parliament for additional paternity leave and pay – likely to be available for babies expected on or after 3 April 2011, or being matched for adoption on or after that date.
• Government decides against a statutory right to time-off for a range of wider public duties.
• Fit notes to replace sick notes from 6 April 2010
• Employees may choose to take illness during annual leave as sick leave rather than annual leave.
• Failure to give proper notice for statutory annual leave may lead to loss of the leave.
• NICE guidance on managing long-term or persistent short-term sickness absence.
• Right to opt-out from 48 hour working week remains in place.

Plus:

• good summary of issues, the law and good practice when managing time-off for religious holidays and observance.