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No 42 The Employment Rights (Increase of Limits) Order (Northern Ireland) 2020

This Order increases, from 6th April 2020, the limits applying to certain awards of industrial tribunals, the Fair Employment Tribunal or Labour Relations Agency statutory arbitration. Examples of these rates include the maximum amount of “a week’s pay” for the purpose of calculating a redundancy payment or various awards, including the basic or additional award of compensation for unfair dismissal is now £560. The limit on amount of guarantee payment payable to an employee in respect of any day is now £30.00. The other rates can be found in the Schedule to the Order.

Fair Employment (School Teachers) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

This legislation was enacted by the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2022 and came into effect on 12th May 2024.

From this date, it will be unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of religious or philosophical belief or political opinion in respectof the recruitment or promotion of teachers in schools in Northern Ireland.

Prior to 2003, FETO, and its predecessors, did not prohibit discrimination on the grounds of religious or philosophical belief or political opinion in relation to any aspect of the employment of school teachers. That was due to the effects of article 71 of FETO, commonly known as the teachers’ exception.

This situation changed through a process that began in 2003 when an EU equality law, Council Directive 2000/78/EC, required the exception to be modified and
narrowed. As a result, and since then, FETO has prohibited discrimination on its equality grounds in relation to most aspects of the employment of teachers in
schools; e.g. in relation to pay, training, absence and performance management,
dismissal, harassment.

Despite that change, FETO’s prohibition of discrimination did not apply to the recruitment or promotion of teachers in schools due to the continuing effects of one part of the article 71 exception that remained.

The remaining gap in coverage was filled on 12 May 2024 with the inrtoduction of this legislation.

Restraint of Trade

Restraint of trade, also known as ‘restrictive covenants’ help organisations to protect themselves against competitors getting access to their confidential or commercially sensitive information.

Dismissal

Employees can be dismissed for reasons such as gross misconduct or a fundamental breach of contract. A fair and robust process should be followed where all parties have certain rights and responsibilities.

No. 62 The Statutory Maternity Pay (General) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

These Regulations amend the 1987 Regulations to provide for continuity of employment in respect of a dismissal where a woman commences a statutory dispute resolution procedure and as a consequence of the procedure is reinstated or re-engaged by her employer (on or after 6/4/05).

Rests and breaks

Employees are entitled to breaks for meals and to rest. As far as possible employers should provide breaks, facilities and comfortable surroundings for additional needs such as breastfeeding or expressing milk.

No 149 The Maternity Allowance (Curtailment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015

These Regulations enable a woman to end her Maternity Allowance early so that an eligible person (a spouse, civil partner, partner or the child’s father) can take the remaining number of untaken weeks of Maternity Allowance as shared parental pay and/or shared parental leave.

Leaflet 1. Know the Law

February 2016

Employees have a range of legal rights derived from national or European legislation and these are summarised in this leaflet

Types of problems

Problems can arise in any workplace. Below are some examples, though not an exhaustive list. Employers, employees and their representatives may find it helpful to refer to the Labour Relations Agency's codes of practice, sample letters, flowcharts and guides. Our service is confidential and all our resources are free of charge to anyone working to prevent or resolve a workplace issue in Northern Ireland.