7.4b Political and Legal: Scope and Effects of Labour Market Law

Question 1

What is employment law aimed at?

Answer 1

Protecting the heath, safety and rights of employees

Question 2

What are the characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010?

Answer 2

• Age
• Disability
• Gender reassignment
• Marriage and civil partnership
• Race
• Religion or belief
• Sex
• Sexual orientation

Question 3

Examples of discrimination laws applying in employing staff

Answer 3

• Recruitment
• Employee contract
• Promotions

Question 4

How does an employer avoid disabled workers being put at a disadvantage compared to non-disabled workers?

Answer 4

By making reasonable adjustments (e.g. a special piece of equipment)

Question 5

Men and women are entitled to equal what?

Answer 5

Pay for work of equal value

Question 6

What does pay include?

Answer 6

Everything in the employment contract (bonuses, pension contributions as well as salary)

Question 7

What can men and women do if they believe that pay is unequal?

Answer 7

They can take the employer to an Employment Tribunal

Question 8

Minimum wage for 25 years and older

Answer 8

£7.83

Question 9

Minimum wage for 21 to 24 years

Answer 9

£7.38

Question 10

Minimum wage for 18 to 20 years

Answer 10

£5.90

Question 11

Minimum wage for under 18 years

Answer 11

£4.20

Question 12

Minimum wage for apprentice

Answer 12

£3.70

Question 13

A business has to make sure it has a fair spread of what?

Answer 13

Gender and ethnicities in its work force

Question 14

Employee right definition

Answer 14

Something to which an employee is entitled which is protected by law

Question 15

Examples of employment rights in UK:

Answer 15

• Reasonable notice before dismissal
• Right to redundancy
• Right to request flexible working

Question 16

What do mediating groups such as ACAS do?

Answer 16

Help both businesses and employees avoid problems

Question 17

Advantages of employment law

Answer 17

• Improved employer/employee relations
• Employee motivation
• Equality

Question 18

Disadvantages of employment law

Answer 18

• Additional costs
• More regulated working environment
• Less productivity?

Question 19

What is direct discrimination?

Answer 19

Treating someone less favourable because they have a protected characteristics

Question 20

What is indirect discrimination?

Answer 20

Everyone is treated the same but it has a worse effect on one group of people that others e.g. a rule that employees must not wear head coverings

Question 21

What does State Pension received depend on?

Answer 21

How many years you have paid National Insurance for

Question 22

What is the State Pension age?

Answer 22

Currently 65 and will rise to 68