Minor changes to employment law

Changes to the wording of recent legislation have given more protection to people facing discrimination because of their philosophical beliefs, and widened the range of carers who have the right to request flexible working.

Since they came into force in December 2003, the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 have outlawed discrimination on grounds of "religion, religious belief, or similar philosophical belief". But an amendment on 30 April has removed the word "similar", so the definition is consistent with that in human rights law.

The amended legislation now prohibits discrimination on grounds of "any religion, or religious or philosophical belief", which the House of Lords has said would cover a "world view or life stance".

Meanwhile, the right to request flexible working will be extended to carers who look after a son-in-law or daughter-in-law from 3 May.

These categories were omitted from the list of relatives added in 2006, and the oversight is being put right by the Flexible Working (Eligibility, Complaints and Remedies) (Amendment) Regulations 2007.