The King’s Speech: Upcoming Employment Reforms
The King's Speech has signalled a significant shift in the employment landscape, with the introduction of two major bills planned: The Employment Rights Bill and The Draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill.
Here at Seymours + Solicitors, we're committed to keeping you informed about these upcoming changes.
The Employment Rights Bill: Delivering a "New Deal for Working People"
This bill prioritises worker well-being and stability by focusing on economic stability and growth. Key changes include:
Banning Zero-Hour Contracts: Promoting predictability and security for workers.
Ending "Fire and Rehire" Practices: Protecting employees from unjust dismissal tactics.
Day-One Rights: Extending parental leave, sick pay, and unfair dismissal protection from the first day of employment.
Stronger Statutory Sick Pay: Removing limitations on who qualifies and when payments begin.
Default Flexible Working: Making flexible work arrangements the norm, with employers required to accommodate reasonable requests.
Enhanced Protection for New Mothers: Extending dismissal protections for mothers returning from maternity leave.
Single Enforcement Body: Strengthening the enforcement of workplace rights.
These changes address the rise of insecure work practices like zero-hour contracts. The government aims to provide greater security and encourage job mobility, potentially leading to higher wages and productivity.
Additionally, the bill emphasises a "genuine living wage" that reflects the cost of living and removes discriminatory age-based pay structures.
The Draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill: Dismantling Barriers
This bill tackles inequality faced by ethnic minorities and disabled workers by:
Equal Pay for All: Enshrining the right to equal pay in law, making it easier to pursue claims of unequal pay.
Mandatory Pay Reporting: Larger companies are required to report pay gaps based on ethnicity and disability, prompting companies to address them.
What to Expect: A Timeline of Change
The government appears committed to swift implementation.
The Employment Rights Bill is expected to be introduced within the first 100 days of the new Parliament, likely around October 2024.
The Equality Bill, still in draft form, may take longer.
While it may take months or even years for these changes to be fully implemented, significant reforms are on the horizon. The government intends to collaborate with both businesses and unions to achieve a "New Deal" for workers.
We at Seymours + Solicitors will continue to follow these developments closely and provide updates on their impact for employers and employees alike.
If you have any questions, please do contact our expert solicitors at info@seymoursolicitors.co.uk