As the world continues to watch the United Kingdom navigate its exit from the European Union, citizens and businesses alike are bracing for change. One particularly impactful area is that of employment law, specifically with regards to leave entitlements and benefits. As a result of the EU exit separation agreements, there have been some key changes that employers and employees need to be aware of.
The first thing to understand is that the separation agreements cover two distinct groups of people: those who are UK nationals living in the EU, and those who are EU nationals living in the UK. For UK nationals living in the EU, it has been agreed that they will continue to receive the same benefits and protections they enjoyed prior to Brexit. This includes things like paid leave entitlements, maternity and paternity leave, and sick leave.
For EU nationals living in the UK, the situation is slightly more complex. In general, EU nationals who are already living in the UK (and have been for some time) will retain their existing employment law protections, including leave entitlements. However, for new arrivals after the Brexit transition period ended on 31 December 2020, there are some changes.
The main change for new arrivals is that they will not be entitled to the same level of benefits and protections as existing EU nationals in the UK. This means that for specific types of leave, such as parental leave and sick leave, they may be entitled to less than their UK national counterparts. However, it’s important to note that basic annual leave entitlements will still be the same for all workers, regardless of nationality.
Ultimately, the goal of the separation agreements is to provide some level of certainty and stability for workers across the EU and the UK during this transitional period. Employers should ensure that they are up to speed on the changes and communicate any changes to their employees in a clear and timely manner. For employees, it’s important to understand your rights and entitlements so that you can make informed decisions about your employment.