Midlands employers are being urged not to panic about the increase of employment rights for agency workers and the prospect of the extension of flexible working practices.

Tim Lang, partner and head of employment at Black Country law firm George Green, says that although new employment rights will add to a seemingly ever increasing administrative burden for employers, provided they follow the correct procedures, there should be no negative effect on business.

“For employers using agency workers not much should change. The introduction of new rights, agreed with the European Union on June 10 only applies if agency workers have been with the same company for more than 12 weeks,” said Mr Lang, who is based at George Green’s Cradley Heath offices.

“ Most businesses do not use the same temporary workers for that length of time.”

“While the new regulations do provide for equal pay and holiday entitlement, employers are already obliged to give holiday pay, and the new rights do not extend to sick pay or pension contributions, so, provided businesses deal correctly with agency workers, they should not be unduly affected.”

According to Mr Lang, the same is true, should the Government proceed with its proposals to increase the numbers of workers who are entitled to request flexible working from their employers.

In his announcement of legislation likely to be introduced in the next session of Parliament, Gordon Brown included a proposal to extend the right to ask for flexible working to parents of children under 16.

Mr Lang said: “On the face of it, increased flexible working could be a massive burden, especially to smaller employers, suddenly faced with large numbers of staff asking to work when it suits them, rather than their employer.

“However, the current legislation which covers flexible working of parents with disabled children or children under the age of six, shows that there are very many business reasons why such requests can be turned down legitimately.

“It is, though, very important to follow the correct legal procedures should a request for flexible working be made, to avoid any claims by workers to employment tribunals.

“So, the future holds even more red tape for employers, but there is no need to panic, especially if employers follow legal advice.”