<p> <br /> Business leaders have warned that a "relentless flow" of employment law was stifling competitiveness and risked future job creation.<br /> </p><br /> <p> <br /> The British Chambers of Commerce said basic workplace protections had been supplemented with "burdensome" rights such as extended time-off provisions, as well as "unreasonable" health and safety restrictions.<br /> </p><br /> <p> <br /> Problems included an "unacceptable" 20-week delay in starting employment tribunal cases, and employers being responsible for the health and safety of staff who worked from home, said the report.<br /> </p><br /> <p> <br /> BCC director-general David Frost said: "There is an emerging consensus that employment law is now weighted too far in favour of the employee. Many rights come from EU legislation, which is informed by and aimed at labour markets very different to our own.<br /> </p><br /> <p> <br /> "The result is that the UK and the EU are becoming increasingly uncompetitive due to the rising cost of labour."<br /> </p><br /> <p> <br /> Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and Shadow Business Secretary Kenneth Clarke will be challenged about the report's findings when they speak at the BCC's annual conference on Thursday.<br /> </p>
