The Government has unveiled what it says is the most significant reforms to worker’s rights
In a bill introduced to the House of Commons today legislation is intended to upgrade workers’ rights across the UK, tackle poor working conditions and benefit businesses and workers alike
Employment Rights Bill will end exploitative zero-hour contracts and unscrupulous fire and rehire practices, while establishing rights to bereavement and parental leave from day one
The existing two-year qualifying period for protections from unfair dismissal will be removed, delivering on the manifesto commitment to ensure that all workers have a right to these protections from day one on the job.
The government will also consult on a new statutory probation period for companies’ new hires. This will allow for a proper assessment of an employee’s suitability to a role as well as reassuring employees that they have rights from day one, enabling businesses to take chances on hires while giving more people confidence to re-enter the job market or change careers, improving their living standards.
The bill will bring forward 28 individual employment reforms, from ending exploitative zero hours contracts and fire and rehire practices to establishing day one rights for paternity, parental and bereavement leave for millions of workers. Statutory sick pay will also be strengthened, removing the lower earnings limit for all workers and cutting out the waiting period before sick pay kicks in.
Accompanying this will be measures to help make the workplace more compatible with people’s lives, with flexible working made the default where practical. Large employers will also be required to create action plans on addressing gender pay gaps and supporting employees through the menopause, and protections against dismissal will be strengthened for pregnant women and new mothers. This is all with the intention of keeping people in work for longer, reducing recruitment costs for employers by increasing staff retention and helping the economy grow.
A new Fair Work Agency bringing together existing enforcement bodies will also be established to enforce rights such as holiday pay and support employers looking for guidance on how to comply with the law
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:
“This government is delivering the biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation, boosting pay and productivity with employment laws fit for a modern economy. We’re turning the page on an economy riven with insecurity, ravaged by dire productivity and blighted by low pay.
The UK’s out-of-date employment laws are holding our country back and failing business and workers alike. Our plans to make work pay will deliver security in work as the foundation for boosting productivity and growing our economy to make working people better off and realise our potential.
Too many people are drawn into a race to the bottom, denied the security they need to raise a family while businesses are unable to retain the workers they need to grow. We’re raising the floor on rights at work to deliver a stronger, fairer and brighter future of work for Britain.
Salford Business School’s Senior Lecturer in Human Resources Management and Employment Law, Dr Jonathan Lord, shares his thoughts.
The Employment Rights Bill is a positive move towards granting employees more flexibility and safeguarding their time outside of work. However, the Labour government is likely to encounter strong opposition from businesses that wish to maintain control over how they manage and structure work relationships. Trade unions have also counter argued that the balance of power in the workplace has shifted significantly away from workers over the last decade and believe the expected changes in the Bill will help reverse this trend.
“To try and address some of these concerns, in August the Deputy Prime Minister and Business Secretary hosted senior representatives from trade unions and business organisations to discuss workers’ rights. This will also ensure they benefit from providing research-based evidence on the impacts of the proposed changes if they aim to persuade, rather than simply impose restrictions.”
