Employment Law Survey

Almost half of SME’s are unaware of the changes coming in and the effect it may have on their business according to a nationwide survey by employment law specialists Citation.

As the start date of the new legislation looms, Citation, based in Wilmslow, Cheshire, contacted SME business owners across the UK to understand their awareness of this important new change to employment law.

They were asked to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ regarding their knowledge of the new legislation and when it comes in. And also share their opinions on the involvement of the EU in the UK’s employment law. Andrea O’ Hare, Head of Personnel and Employment Law said:”This additional five weeks of parental leave per parent per child, to be taken before the child’s fifth birthday, means that every working parent of a child under five will be entitled to take an additional week off work each year. Our survey showed that 45% of businesses asked stated they didn’t know about the new legislation. This is surprising considering the impact it is likely to have, on SMEs in particular.

55% think the new legislation will have an impact on their business; including 1 in 10 who believe it will have a major impact.

The survey also reveals the worrying number of business owners concerned by the EU’s increasing involvement in the UK’s employment laws; 63% rated the EU as having too much involvement.”