The Employment Rights Bill: what does this mean for working people?

The Employment Rights Bill: what does this mean for working people?

The government recently introduced the Employment Rights Bill (the Bill) — a comprehensive piece of legislation designed to protect workers’ rights in the UK.

In a webinar for TSSA representatives on 28 November 2024, I will look at the Bill's key features and its potential impact on employees and businesses alike, including:

• Day one rights and unfair dismissal rights: the government has proposed a statutory probationary period of nine months, replacing the current two-year qualifying period for employees to claim unfair dismissal.
• Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): SSP will be payable from the first day of absence, removing the current three-day waiting period. The Lower Earnings Limit for qualifying for SSP, which is currently set at £123.00 per week, is also to be removed. 
• Banning zero-hour contracts: the government proposes to give workers on a zero-hour contract the right to move to a guaranteed hours contract.
• No more fire and rehire: fire and rehire practices will constitute an automatic unfair dismissal (rather than in limited circumstances).
• Flexible working rights: from day one, employees will have the right to work on a flexible basis from day one; however, this must be requested. Employers will still be able to refuse a flexible working request on statutory grounds.
• Trade union rights: the Bill intends to repeal the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 and remove the 2016 ballot thresholds, making it easier for unions to take industrial action.

For employees, the bill represents a significant step forward, with better job security, fairer pay structures, and improved work-life balance. For businesses, adapting to these changes may require shifts in how they handle staffing, scheduling, and working environments.

While some employers have raised concerns about the potential costs and logistics of implementing these rights, it’s important to remember that the UK currently has one of the lowest levels of employment protections within the largest economies of the world, and we need to catch up.

The webinar will provide key information on the new bill for anyone who represents employees in workplace disputes.