The Red Kite Law view of 2012 . . .

Donna Purchase, partner and employment law and Human Resources specialist with Red Kite Law, the newest and biggest law firm in West Wales, gives her views on 2012 –
In 2012, the Government will continue with its review of employment law red tape.
This review forms part of the Government’s stated aims to deliver economic growth by breaking down barriers and creating the right conditions for businesses to start up and thrive.
It has confirmed that it will deliver a number of changes in 2012, the most important of which is the change in the qualifying period for unfair dismissal from one year to two years.
As a result, employees will need to have worked with the employer for a continuous period of two years rather than the current one year period before they are entitled to bring a claim of unfair dismissal.
This change is set to take place in April, 2012.
There are many more changes that are yet to be confirmed, such as changes to the Employment Tribunal procedure.
As always, our advice to employers will be to keep fully abreast of the proposed changes. Ignorance of changes to employment law could cost some firms a lot of money.
In West Wales, there is always plenty of debate about the rights of Agency Workers.
Agency workers gained additional rights to pay and benefits under new laws that came into force on 1st October. Business groups have complained that the changes could cost employers up to £2bn a year.
An agency worker is someone who provides work or services to an organisation, but is contracted via an agency. Contractors and workers on secondment may also be covered.
The impact of the changes on agency workers will continue to be felt across West Wales over the start of 2012.
On a personal level with Red Kite Law, we are looking forward to improving our status in The Legal 500 guide, which is widely acknowledged as the world’s largest legal benchmarking programme.
Red Kite Law is listed in Legal 500 as a ‘Top Tier’ firm in one practice area. We also have one team member listed in the elite ‘Leading lawyers’ list. On top of that, we have a total of eight lawyers ‘recommended’ in The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2011 guide.
Let’s hope 2012 brings us further success!
Red Kite Law has 15 partners and a total headcount of 120, with seven offices spread across Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. Red Kite Law was formed as a result of a merger between two long-established law firms in South West Wales – Lowless & Lowless and Morris Roberts. The team at Red Kite Law can be contacted on 01267 239000 and 01437 763332 or through the website at www.redkitelaw.co.uk