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23 April 2009 / Ian Smith
Issue: 7366 / Categories: Features , Employment
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April showers

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Ian Smith outlines a host of changes which came into force on 6 April

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As dawn broke on Monday 6 April, small groups of employment lawyers could be seen throughout the country dancing naked with mistletoe in their hair to welcome it in and to give thanks for the demise of the statutory procedures. Your humble author (having put his clothes back on and left Southwold beach before being arrested) had a particular reason for gratitude. My wife is just about to retire as my secretary and, for tax purposes, I have to dismiss her formally. I have written off for a P45, but fortunately, as this will now take place after 6 April I do not have to hold a disciplinary meeting with her when I hand it over; this should diminish the risk of physical violence.

The other statutory news as of this significant date was the extension of the right to request flexible working to parents of children of 16 or under. Also, the Acas Code

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