In January 2011, the Government launched a consultation on reforms to the employment tribunal system. The reforms are designed to encourage the early resolution of disputes, streamline the tribunal process and help businesses feel more confident about hiring people. 

The Government has committed to extending the right to request flexible working to all employees. 

The Government has committed to introducing a new system of shared parental leave and pay that parents can access so that, where they want to, they can share caring responsibilities. 

In October 2008, the European Commission published proposals for a revision of the Pregnant Workers Directive (92/85/EEC) (on the Europa website). In February 2010, the European Parliament Womens' Rights Committee passed draft legislation extending maternity leave beyond the Commission's original proposal of 18 weeks on full pay, to 20 weeks on full pay. While the European Parliament voted in favour of the proposed extension in October 2010, the Council of the European Union subsequently rejected the proposed extension in December 2010. 

In March 2010, the European Commission commenced the first stage of mandatory consultation with European Union-level trade union and employers' organisations seeking views on first, a possible comprehensive review of the Working Time Directive (03/88/EC) (previously the Working Time Directive (93/104/EC)) and second, which of the Directive's provisions should be adapted, simplified or clarified to take account of developments in the length and distribution of working time since the Directive was adopted in 1993.