Employment Relations directorate is responsible for developing policy and legislation on issues affecting:

• individual workers, including:
  
  fair and unfair dismissal      employment contracts      part time working      employment status (definition of  'employee' and 'worker' for employment rights purposes)      fixed term working      young workers      transfer of business (TUPE)     national minimum wage      work-life balance      public interest disclosure (whistleblowing)      redundancy payments      employment status      time off for job hunting or training when facing redundancy      time off for public duties      guarantee payments      time off to look after a dependant      parental leave      maternity leave      home working      Sunday working      working hours      holidays      the right to be accompanied at disciplinary and grievance hearings      compensation scheme for former Icelandic trawlermen   
  
  

• trade unions, including:
  
  industrial action      union recognition and derecognition      collective bargaining      rights of union members and non-members      dispute resolution      union elections      union financial affairs      information and consultation
   
• European Union legislation:
  
  impact of EU employment legislation on UK businesses and workers      negotiate and implement directives      European companies      European Works Councils      posted workers' rights      coordinating the implementation of the Race and Employment (Equality) Directives, anti-discrimination legislation on sexual orientation, religion and age  
   
• Promoting partnership and best practice 
  
  
• Regulation of employment tribunals and employment agencies
  
  
• Dates of public holidays  
  
  
  

Last updated 25 June 2002