Below are some of the key dates employers should keep in mind, to be aware of the changes coming into force, and steps you may need to take to ensure compliance by your business:-

• 3 April 2011 – Additional paternity leave provisions apply to babies born/matched for adoption on or after this date
  
  
• 3 April 2011 – The entitlement to statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay increases from £124.88 per week to £128.73 per week (subject to employee’s earnings)
  
  
• 5 April 2011 – deadline by which any notice of intention to retire under the current statutory procedure should be given to employee
  
  
• 29 April - Extra Bank Holiday for the Royal wedding. Ensure you give emplpyees clear and timely notice of how bank holidays will be treated in contracts of employment and confirm the rate of pay if employees are expected to work.
  
  
• 1 October 2011 – abolition of the Default Retirement Age
  
  
• 1 October 2011 – The Agency Worker Regulations 2010 come into force giving agency workers equality of treatment with permanent workers, subject to certain conditions and requirements
  
  
• 4 June 2012 - Extra bank holiday in celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: The late May bank holiday will be moved to 4 June 2012 and an extra bank holiday will be added on Tuesday 5 June 2012