UK law is developed in a series of stages, the following terminology is applied to the timetable to signpost the intent of key information.

• Proposals: the raising of issues before they are moved into a legislative process. 
• Debate: for an act to become law it will pass through some, or most, of 12 stages in parliament. These stages give interested parties an opportunity to shape the legislation being proposed.
• Upcoming law (Royal Assent): the term royal assent signifies when a law has passed the 12 legislative stages. It is now on the statute book but not usually in force at this point. Generally secondary legislation will subsequently be made to commence the law (bring it into force).
• Legally enforceable (Commencement): this is the point at which the law comes into force.
• Update: here we capture important information that falls outside of any legislative process. 

Further detail is provided on how employment laws are made in the UK, the role of the UK court system in shaping law and the employment law differences between the UK and Ireland.