Law firm Weightmans is warning the insurance industry that it has less than two months to prepare for the introduction of the Part-Time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000.
The firm says the new regulations will have an impact on all business that employ part-time workers.
The main points are:
Part-timers must not have a lower basic rate of pay than comparable full-timers, unless it can be justified on objective grounds ( e.g. profit-related pay)
Entitled to the same training opportunities as full-timers.
Equal access to occupational pension schemes as full-timers, unless the difference can be justified on objective grounds.
Part-timers are not treated less favourable when being selected for redundancy, unless the different treatment can be objectively justified.
Receive the same sick pay and maternity pay rights as full time workers (adjusted pro rata)
Same annual holiday leave, parental leave and time-off for dependents as full timers.
Entitled to receive pay at overtime rates once they have worked the same number of hours as an ordinary full-time worker.
