A BOLTON law firm is calling on local businesses to prepare for legislation that gives new rights to employees with disputes.

The new law, introduced on 1 October, 2004, encourages employers and employees to discuss workplace disputes internally before they escalate and become disruptive to the business.

Fiona Holdsworth, employment solicitor at Kippax Beaumont Lewis, said: "Businesses can't assume their current procedures meet the new rules."