If you read nothing else, please read this! Employment Rights Bill published: Solutions, not problems.

Claire Vane
October 11, 2024

We have been waiting for the Employment Rights Bill and it has now been published. We are always interested in how laws become published and have been reviewing this for some weeks. We do not propose that you read all 150 pages of it here, and further blogs will follow in the coming weeks.

Key provisions relate to individual employment rights and there is no way that any employer can turn a blind eye. There is legislation around:

• Zero hours.

• Flexible working.

• Statutory sick pay (from day one).

• Bereavement leave.

• Third-party harassment.

• Protected disclosures including allegations of sexual harassment.

• Unfair dismissal - very important - removal of qualifying period, provided individuals have already started work.

• Fire and re-hire measures.

• Redundancy consultation.

• Equality action plans.

• Provisions for collective bargaining for school support staff and adult care workers.

• …And yet more.

While we have been waiting some time for the publishing of the Employment Rights Bill, it will be some time before the measures start, although we could guess that it is about a year off. What you will need to do includes updating policies and handbooks, amending contracts, and training middle and senior managers to understand the implications of these changes.

This is an extremely important and huge piece of legislation that will come in. Of considerable concern will be the existing two-year qualifying period for protection from unfair dismissal being removed, along with the law changing to make flexible working a default for everyone unless it is unreasonable. Each measure has a great significance.

We have got it all covered, so please do get in touch if you would like help with any of the above over the coming months so that there is not a last-minute scramble to protect your business.

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