The age discrimination legislation coming into force on the 1st of October 2006 will be the biggest shake up of the workplace for thirty years. The key areas affected will be:

• Retirement
• Harassment
• Recruitment
• Statutory Sick Pay

New fire safety rules affecting all non-domestic premises in England and Wales will come into force on 1 October 2006. A responsible person from each place of employment must ensure that fire risk assessment is carried out and take full corporate liability for any incident. He or she will be required to assess the risks of fire and take steps to reduce or improve them.

The government has announced that the adult minimum wage rate will rise from £5.05 to £5.35 an hour from the 1st of October. The youth rate for those aged 18 to 21 will be increased from £4.25 to £4.45. The Government has also accepted the recommendation of the Low Pay Commission that the rate for workers aged 16-17 years should increase from £3.00 to £3.30.