The primary role of the Legislative & Policy Committee is to make non-political representations on behalf of ELA members on consultation documents issued by the Government and others in the field of employment law.

As an apolitical group of specialists in the field of employment law, ELA’s role is to comment on the workability and likely impact of proposed legislation, rather than the political merits or otherwise of proposed legislation.

ELA’s neutral approach is necessary in light of the fact that our members act for both employers and employees. It is this practitioner focus that makes ELA’s responses unique and highly valued.

ELA has often been asked by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (formerly the DTI) for specific input and discussion about issues under consultation. These sessions reflect the high degree of respect and trust in which ELA’s expertise is held. Our comments often result in significant changes from the drafts of complex new legislation.

ELA Responses to Government Consultations

ELA’s responses to Government and other bodies' consultations are organised through working parties made up of volunteer ELA members. Working parties are made up of representatives from the diverse sectors of our membership – barristers, solicitors who represent both employers and employees, members from the voluntary, public and private sectors and trade unions. Our members work together to analyse proposed legislation, consider how it will work in practice and suggest ways to improve it. We are not concerned by what is helpful to employers or employees.

Over the past year, we have received a number of applications from ELA members to join the L&P Committee, which is always over-subscribed. It is very encouraging that there is such enthusiasm for this important part of ELA’s work.

This high level of interest has prompted us to review our policy for accepting new committee members, as follows:

When an appropriate opportunity arises with a new working party formed to respond to a given consultation, will send out an email alert to members inviting expressions of interest for that particular consultation. Members who express an interest in getting involved in a given consultation will be contacted and invited to contribute. When opportunities arise, those who show commitment can be invited on to the committee itself. In this way, we hope to encourage a democratic and fair way of participating in ELA’s legislative and policy work.

ACAS Consultation

We have just convened a working party to respond to the ACAS Consultation on a Draft Code of Practice on discipline and grievance.

The submission deadline is 25 July 2008

The consultation document can be found here:

http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2060

If you are interested in contributing to this consultation, please send us an email by clicking on the link below telling us a little bit about your experience and practice.

Recent Responses

The Ministry of Justice’s Consultation on Transforming Tribunals

ELA formed a working party to respond to the Ministry of Justice’s Consultation on Transforming Tribunals. The ELA's response to this consultation was submitted on 22 February 2008.

Read the consultation paper and ELA response to 'Transforming Tribunals'.

Government response to the consultation 'Transforming Tribunals'

Discrimination Law Review: A Framework for Fairness: Proposals for a Single Equality Bill

This consultation sought views on the Government’s proposals for simplifying, modernising and making more effective the framework of discrimination. The Government’s stated aim is to produce a Single Equality Bill which is simpler and more effective. ELA’s response of 4 September 2007 is essential reading for anyone interested in discrimination law.
ELA's reponse to the Discrimination Law Review consultation can be found here.

Resolving Disputes in the Workplace

In June 2007, ELA conducted a membership-wide consultation on the Government consultation on Resolving Disputes in the Workplace.

The review was far-reaching and was an opportunity for ELA to help develop a more coherent way of resolving disputes. Through a series of workshops we set up around the UK for our members to brainstorm the issues, we ensured that our response represented the views of ELA nationally – small firms, large firms, claimant lawyers, respondent lawyers, solicitors and barristers. The DTI (as it then was) sent senior representatives to a number of our workshops to listen to the views of ELA members.
ELA's response to the consultation on Resolving Disputes in the Workplace can be found here.

Legislative & Policy Committee 2007-08