In this eBulletin we highlight the changes to the law dealing with tribunal awards and statutory payments; increase of the normal pension age; the introduction of "fit notes" to replace "sick notes"; the introduction of the Equality Act; the new right to request time off for training and study; the government's additional bank holiday for 2012; the new requirement for migrants to submit their biometrics; the maximum penalty for serious breaches of the Data Protection Act; and important changes being made to whistleblowing cases.

Employers and employees should be aware of the many changes to Statutory payments from 4 April.

In a bid to encourage people to focus on what a worker can do, rather than their incapacity, a new system of "fit notes" will replace the current "sick notes" from April 2010. We explain how this will work.

From 6 April 2010 many employees will be able to request unpaid time off work to undertake training or study. Read the short article to find out who this will apply to.

From 6 January 2010, all migrants making an application under Tier 2 (skilled workers) of the points-based immigration system in the UK are required to submit their biometrics (fingerprints and digital photograph) in order to obtain an Identification Card for Foreign Nationals (proof of the holder's right to stay, work and study in the UK), which will replace the vignette in the passport.

Action Steps
Employers should ensure that they retain a copy for their records and also be aware that the process may now take longer than before.

New regulations implementing changes to whistle blowing cases will be laid before Parliament shortly but it is believed that the new powers will apply to cases brought on or after 6 April 2010.