Employment Law Rights Bill

Employment Law Rights Bill 

Last week the King delivered his speech to parliament whereby he confirmed Labour’s intention to “legislate to introduce a new deal for working people to ban exploitative practices and enhance employment rights”.

Although the King’s speech did not provide further detail regarding the same, the Prime Minister’s briefing notes summarise the highlights of the Employment Rights Bill and Labour’s intention for it to be introduced within the first one hundred days. Namely, this includes:

❌ A ban on ‘exploitative’ zero-hour contracts to end ‘one-sided’ flexibility

1️⃣ Making parental leave, sick pay and protection from unfair dismissal available from day 1 on the job for all workers.

🤒 Strengthening Statutory Sick Pay by removing the lower earnings limit and the 3 day waiting period.

❌ Placing a ban on the controversial practice of ‘Fire and Rehire’ and ‘Fire and Replace’

🤸‍♂️ Making flexible working the default from day-one for all workers, with employers required to accommodate this as far as is reasonable. What is ‘reasonable’ is yet to be defined.

👶 Strengthening protection for new mothers by making it unlawful to dismiss a woman who has had a baby for 6 months after her return to work (except in specific circumstances)

📍 Establishing a new Single Enforcement Body

💰 Establishing a Fair Pay Agreement in the adult social care sector

💭 Reinstating the School Support Staff Negotiating Body

💭 Updating trade union legislation

💭 Simplifying the process of statutory recognition and introduce a regulated route to ensure workers and union members have a reasonable right to access a union within workplaces

There has also been a further reference to draft legislation to “enshrine full right to equal pay in law” to tackle inequality for ethnic minority and disabled people.

It is clear that the landscape is changing and business owners must be prepared for the ‘seismic shift’ that may be to come.

If you require any assistance with employment related matters, please contact Annalie King, Partner and Head of our Employment Law team or Rosie Brighty at Kerseys Solicitors in Ipswich on 01473 213311, Kerseys Solicitors in Felixstowe on 01394 834557 or Kerseys Solicitors in Colchester on 01206 584584, alternatively can email us at [email protected] or visit our website and click “Call Me Back” and a member of our Employment Law team will be happy to contact you at a time that is convenient to you.