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Employment Law General Update – January 2025

Employment Update Employment Law

This article summarises the main developments that will affect employment law in 2025 and beyond.

Employment Rights Bill and related consultations

Other employment measures

Employment Rights Bill and related consultations

Prior to its success in the general election that took place on 4 July 2024, the Labour Party proposed wide-ranging and fundamental reform of employment law. It promised that several of its reforms would be contained in an Employment Rights Bill (ERB), which was introduced on 10 October 2024.

Together with the draft ERB, on 10 October 2024, the government published a policy paper, Next Steps to Make Work Pay (Next Steps paper), which set out the steps the government intends to take following the publication of the ERB. It confirms that further detail on many of the policies contained in the ERB will be provided through partnership with business, workers and trade unions, regulations, and in some cases codes of practice, after the ERB has received Royal Assent, which is expected to be in 2025.

The ERB makes provision for wide-ranging changes to be made to employment law, including in relation to unfair dismissal, fire and rehire, collective redundancies, zero hours and low hours contracts, trade unions and industrial action, sexual harassment and third-party harassment, statutory sick pay (SSP), flexible working and family leave. In October 2024, the government published four consultations as part of its first phase of consulting relevant stakeholders. Further consultations are expected in 2025, which will deal with matters to be included in supporting regulations.

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Bereavement leave

The existing right to two weeks’ parental bereavement leave following the death of a child under 18 or a stillbirth will be extended to be an entitlement to more general “bereavement leave”, which will apply to the loss of a wider group of persons (clause 14, ERB). Like the current provision for parental bereavement leave, bereavement leave will be a day-one right. Regulations will specify the relationships with a person who has died that will qualify an employee to take bereavement leave, and the government will consult on the details to be set out in secondary legislation.

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Collective redundancies

The ERB strengthens redundancy rights and protections by removing the “at one establishment” test for collective redundancies, meaning that the threshold of 20 or more redundancies will be met when that number is impacted across the entire business, rather than at one site. This will increase the obligations on multi-site employers to collectively consult and will require them to keep rolling records of redundancies proposed across their multiple sites. In addition, the government is consulting about raising the current level of the protective award from 90 to 180 days’ pay, or to an uncapped amount and allowing employees to claim interim relief where they have a claim for a protective award or a claim for unfair dismissal in a fire and rehire scenario. During 2025, the government also plans to consult on increasing the minimum collective consultation period when an employer is proposing to dismiss 100 or more employees from 45 to 90 days.

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Dismissal and re-engagement (fire and rehire)

The practice of fire and rehire has received widespread negative press coverage in recent years following a number of high-profile cases. These include the dismissal of almost 800 employees by P&O Ferries in 2022, to be replaced by lower-paid agency staff, and also a case where Tesco (unsuccessfully) sought to use the practice to overturn preferential pay rates it had agreed on a “permanent” basis with staff who agreed to relocate.

The ERB would restrict the ability of an employer to use dismissal and re-engagement (known as “fire and rehire”) as a lawful means of changing an employee’s contractual terms, save where there is genuinely no alternative, due to financial difficulties which threaten the employer’s ability to carry on business as a going concern. It does this by making any dismissal automatically unfair where the reason for dismissal is that the employee did not agree to the employer’s attempt to vary their terms and conditions, or because they intended to employ another person to carry out substantially the same role. On 21 October 2024, the government published a consultation on strengthening the remedies against abuse of the fire and rehire and collective consultation rules (see above). The consultation closed on 2 December 2024.

It is not clear what the government’s intentions are with regard to the Statutory Code of Practice on Dismissal and Re-engagement which was introduced under the previous Conservative government but only came into force on 18 July 2024. Despite its previous strong criticisms of the Code as being “inadequate”, it remains in force for now. It is possible that the government still intends to replace the Code with another one containing more stringent obligations on employers, as envisaged in the Plan to Make Work Pay, although any new Code of Practice would need to be consulted on before it could receive parliamentary approval.

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Equality action plans and menopause support

Future regulations made under clause 26 of the ERB will require employers with 250 employees or more to develop and publish equality action plans showing what steps they are taking in relation to prescribed matters related to gender equality and to publish prescribed information relating to their plans.

Matters relating to gender equality will be those concerning the advancement of equality between male and female employees and will include addressing the gender pay gap and supporting employees going through the menopause. In November 2024, proposed amendments to the ERB were published which will be considered by the Public Bill Committee. An amendment proposed by the government would require employers to include an explanation in their equality action plans on how they are supporting employees with menstrual problems and menstrual disorders.

The government will consult the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on the content of the regulations before they are published.

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Fair Work Agency

The ERB contains provisions permitting the Secretary of State to delegate their labour market enforcement functions to a public authority and to appoint enforcement officers. The Next Steps paper confirms that this will be the new Fair Work Agency (FWA), which will bring together the existing enforcement functions of HMRC (in relation to the national minimum wage (NMW)), the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (EASI) and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA). The introduction of a single enforcement body has long been on the cards and was one of the government’s key manifesto pledges. However, whether the FWA succeeds in improving enforcement is likely to depend on the level of financial resources it is allocated, which is not yet clear. It is not yet known when the FWA will be established, although it is likely to be a number of years before it is fully operational.

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Family leave

Paternity leave and unpaid parental leave will become a day-one right for eligible employees. The government also stated in the Next Steps paper that it intends to make it unlawful to dismiss employees who have been pregnant within six months of their return to work, except in specific circumstances. Regulations are awaited to define what these specific circumstances will be. The government also stated in the Plan to Make Work Pay that it would conduct a review of the current parental leave system during the first year of the Labour government, so this is expected by July 2025.

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Flexible working

The existing day-one right to request flexible working under Part VIIIA of the ERA 1996 (sections 80F to 80I) (as amended) together with the Flexible Working Regulations 2014 (SI 2014/1398) (Flexible Working Regulations) (as amended) will remain, but the ERB will introduce a reasonableness test into the regime, providing that employers will only be able to rely on one of the statutory reasons to refuse a request for flexible working where it is “reasonable for the employer to refuse the application on that ground or those grounds”. In addition, employers will be required to state and explain what the ground for any refusal is and why the refusal is considered reasonable. The Next Steps paper confirmed that there will be a consultation to develop the detail of the approach to be taken on flexible working.

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Sexual harassment

The ERB will amend section 40A of the EqA 2010 to require employers to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment, reflecting the wording originally contained in the Worker Protection Bill. Currently, employers are required to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their employees during the course of their employment under the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023, which came into force on 26 October 2024. Employers will also be under a duty to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent third-party sexual harassment, and to prevent third-party harassment in relation to the other relevant protected characteristics.

In addition, the ERB will amend the whistleblowing provisions of the ERA 1996 to make it clear that reporting sexual harassment will amount to a qualifying disclosure.

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Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

The ERB provides employees with the right to SSP from the first sick day rather than from the fourth day and removes the requirement for the employee’s earnings to be not less than the lower earnings limit to be eligible for SSP.

On 21 October 2024, the government published a consultation on SSP. The consultation, which closed on 4 December 2024, sought views on what the percentage of average weekly earnings should be for the purposes of calculating the rate of SSP for some low-earning employees.

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Trade unions

The ERB will repeal the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023. While nearly all of the restrictions placed on industrial action and picketing by the Trade Union Act 2016 will be removed, the time-limited mandate for industrial action following a ballot will remain. The ERB will introduce the right to a statement of trade union rights and the right for trade unions to access workplaces, it will simplify the rules on trade union recognition, introduce protection against detriment for taking industrial action and increase protection against dismissal for taking industrial action. These are summarised below.

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Right to a statement of trade union rights

The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (TULRCA 1992) will be amended to require employers to give workers a written statement advising that they have the right to join a trade union at the same time as providing the worker’s section 1 statement and at other prescribed times.

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Right of trade unions to access workplaces

Unrecognised unions will be provided with the opportunity to recruit and organise within a workplace with the aim of gaining recognition. Trade unions and employers will be able to enter “access agreements” providing union officials with access to the employer’s workplace for the purposes of meeting, representing, recruiting or organising workers, or facilitating collective bargaining (but expressly not to organise industrial action). The union may apply to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) to determine workplace access if the employer fails to respond to its request for an access agreement. Either party may make an application where negotiations are unsuccessful.

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Simplifying statutory trade union recognition

The statutory scheme for trade union recognition set out in Schedule A1 to TULRCA 1992 will be amended to:

  • Enable the 10% membership threshold for the CAC to accept a trade union recognition application (and at other stages of the recognition scheme) to be reduced to between 2% and 10%.
  • Remove the requirement at the application stage (and at other stages of the recognition scheme) for a union to demonstrate that there is likely to be majority support for trade union recognition.
  • Remove the 40% support threshold from recognition ballots.

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Protection against detriment for taking industrial action

TULRCA 1992 will be amended to provide workers with the right not to be subjected to detriment of a prescribed description by any act (or any deliberate failure to act) by their employer, if the act (or failure) takes place for the sole or main purpose of preventing or deterring the worker from taking protected industrial action, or penalising the worker for doing so.

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Dismissal for taking industrial action

TULRCA 1992 will be amended to provided that for the full duration of an official, lawful strike and after that strike has concluded, an employee will be automatically unfairly dismissed where the reason (or, if more than one, the principal reason) for the dismissal is that the employee took such protected industrial action.

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Consultation on further proposals

The government’s consultation, Making Work Pay: creating a modern framework for industrial relations, which closed on 2 December 2024, sought views on strengthening provisions to prevent unfair practices during trade union recognition, simplifying industrial action ballots, reducing notice of industrial action, extending the permitted duration of industrial action, updating the law on repudiation of industrial action and on prior call, and on enforcement of the trade union right to access workplaces.

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Tribunal time limits

In a set of amendments to the ERB published in November 2024, the government confirmed that it would extend the time limits for bringing all tribunal claims from three to six months. It is not yet clear when this measure will take effect.

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Unfair dismissal

Under the ERB, the right to bring a claim for unfair dismissal will become a day-one right for employees, subject to a new modified “light-touch” dismissal procedure applicable in most cases during an initial period of employment, which will be set by regulations but must be between three and nine months. It removes the two-year qualifying period for ordinary unfair dismissal protection by repealing section 108 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (ERA 1996). Much of the detail will be contained in regulations and is as yet unknown, but this will represent a hugely significant change in the unfair dismissal landscape. To allow for full consultation and a substantial period for employers to prepare and adapt, the unfair dismissal reforms will take effect no sooner than autumn 2026.

In November 2024, proposed amendments to the ERB were published which are being considered by the Public Bill Committee. A government amendment will allow the Secretary of State to specify a cap on the compensatory award for employees unfairly dismissed during the initial period of employment provided for in the ERB.

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Zero hours and “low hours” contracts

Employee representative bodies and trade unions have long condemned the use of zero hours contracts as a means of abusing vulnerable, low-income workers, and providing no job security, rights or guaranteed income. There is very limited protection for workers on such contracts. The ERB will introduce a duty on employers to offer a guaranteed hours contract that reflects the hours qualifying workers regularly work over a reference period (to be specified in regulations, but the government suggested in the Next Steps paper that in its view it should be 12 weeks). The ERB also places a duty on employers to provide reasonable notice of shifts, with workers being entitled to compensation if their shift is cancelled, moved or curtailed at short notice.

On 21 October 2024, the government published a consultation on the application of the zero hours contracts provisions to agency workers. The consultation, which closed on 2 December 2024, explored who should be responsible for offering guaranteed hours to eligible workers: the agency or the hirer. The government notes that a difficulty of making agencies responsible is that they have little or no control, since the demand for hours is largely dictated by hirer. Hirers would, therefore, be in a better position to forecast and manage the flow of work. However, requiring hirers to offer guaranteed hours might effectively make them the agency worker’s employer.

In November 2024, proposed amendments to the ERB were published which are being considered by the Public Bill Committee. Substantial government amendments were put forward in relation to zero hours and “low hours” contracts, including new requirements for employers to take reasonable steps to ensure that workers are given specified information in relation to their rights to guaranteed hours during an “initial information period” and to give workers a notice where they consider an exception to the duty to make a guaranteed hours offer applies, or where a guaranteed hours offer that has been made is treated as having been withdrawn.

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Other employment measures

Draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill

A draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill (Race and Disability Bill) was announced in the King’s Speech 2024, to be led by the Government Equalities Office (GEO). It will be published in draft form for consultation and deliver Labour’s manifesto commitment to “enshrine the full right to equal pay in law” for ethnic minorities and disabled people. There is expected to be significant consultation on the draft Race and Disability Bill and so it is anticipated that it will progress more slowly than the ERB.

The Race and Disability Bill will tackle two main issues:

  • Enshrine in law the full right to equal pay for ethnic minorities and disabled people. This will make it easier for them to bring unequal pay claims, given the existing barriers when bringing pay discrimination claims on the grounds of ethnicity or disability.
  • Introduce mandatory ethnicity and disability pay reporting for employers with 250 or more employees. This will help to close the ethnicity and disability pay gaps, enabling employers to constructively consider why they exist and how to tackle them.

The Next steps paper also states that the government will create a new regulatory enforcement unit for equal pay.

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Neonatal care leave and pay

The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 received Royal Assent in May 2023 and was expected to come into force in April 2025 under the previous Conservative government. The government has confirmed this will come into effect on 6 April 2025. HMRC has published a policy paper on the tax treatment of statutory Neonatal Care Pay (see HMRC: Income Tax: tax treatment of Statutory Neonatal Care Pay). The Act will introduce statutory neonatal leave and pay for up to 12 weeks for parents of babies requiring neonatal care, which must be taken within 68 weeks of birth.

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Right to disconnect

The Plan to Make Work Pay stated that a new “right to switch off” would be introduced, providing workers with the right to disconnect from work outside of working hours and not be contacted by their employer. This would follow similar models to those that are already in place in Ireland and Belgium, giving workers and employers the opportunity to have constructive conversations and work together on bespoke workplace policies or contractual terms that benefit both parties.

There is nothing on this new right in the ERB, and in the Next steps paper, the government confirmed that it would take forward the right to switch off through a statutory Code of Practice. It is expected that a consultation on the new code of practice will be issued in 2025.

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Gender identity and gender critical beliefs

Gender identity is a highly charged issue with polarised views about, on the one hand, a transgender person’s right to have their identity recognised, and on the other hand, so-called “gender critical beliefs” that a person’s sex is an immutable biological fact and that someone’s gender is different from their sex.

Recent case law has recognised gender critical beliefs as being capable of protection under the Equality Act 2010 (EqA 2010) as a philosophical belief (Bailey v Stonewall and others ET/2202172/2020). This provides scope for conflict with other protected characteristics under the EqA 2010, including the protected characteristic of gender reassignment (Fischer v London United Busways Ltd ET/2300846/2021), and poses a challenge for employers who are responsible for preventing discrimination and harassment in the workplace. In For Women Scotland Ltd v Scottish Ministers, the Inner House of the Court of Session confirmed that the definition of “woman” in section 212(1) of the Equality Act 2010 includes trans women with a gender recognition certificate. The case has been appealed and was heard by the Supreme Court on 26 and 27 November 2024.

In May 2024, the Minister for Women and Equalities issued a “call for input” seeking examples of policies or guidance issued by public bodies, or those that advise public and private organisations, which might wrongly suggest that people without a gender recognition certificate (GRC) have a legal right to access single-sex spaces and services according to their self-identified gender. The call for input on incorrect guidance on single-sex spaces closed on 26 June 2024.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace

Modern workplaces are increasingly receptive to and reliant on tools powered by artificial intelligence (AI) such as machine learning, GenAI and automated decision-making to perform certain human resources and employee management functions. In addition, the development of GenAI applications, which can be used to perform a variety of work-related tasks, means that AI is more accessible to the workforce than in the past.

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AI reform

In terms of reform in this area, the government’s Next Steps paper, promised that a consultation would be issued on how to implement measures on surveillance technologies and negotiations with trade unions and staff representatives.

Prior to this, the King’s speech, which was delivered in July 2024, announced that the government:

“… will seek to establish the appropriate legislation to place requirements on those working to develop the most powerful artificial intelligence models”.

Labour’s manifesto (Labour: Change), published in June 2024, promised that Labour would create a new Regulatory Innovation Office, bringing together existing functions across government, to help regulators update regulation and to co-ordinate issues that span different sectors, as it considers that regulators are currently ill-equipped to deal with the dramatic development of new technologies. It also promised to ensure the safe development and use of AI models by introducing binding regulation on the companies developing the most powerful AI models.

Labour’s Plan to Make Work Pay, noted that new technologies such as AI have the potential for positive change, including boosting wages, improving productivity and empowering workers. However, given the risks posed, Labour’s approach will be to protect good jobs and ensure good future jobs. It plans to put in place appropriate rights and protections to keep pace with technological change, while safeguarding against discrimination. At a minimum, Labour stated that it will ensure that proposals by employers to introduce surveillance technologies will be subject to consultation and negotiation, with a view to reaching agreement with trade unions or elected staff representatives. This would not override the provisions of any collective agreement relating to surveillance.

Labour’s New Deal green paper, which was first published in September 2021, had previously stated that proposals by an employer to introduce surveillance technologies would be subject to consultation and agreement by trade unions or elected staff representatives, although it was subsequently reported that this new “right” could be implemented by way of best practice advice or secondary legislation, in a perceived watering down of the original pledge.

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TUC AI taskforce

Labour has been involved with the TUC’s AI taskforce, which in April 2024 published its draft Artificial Intelligence (Employment and Regulation) Bill, setting out recommended regulation of the use of AI in the workplace.

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EU position

The EU is taking a more interventionist approach than the UK. A new Regulation, the EU AI Act, was formally adopted by the Council of the EU on 21 May 2024. The EU AI Act applies to public and private actors inside and outside the EU if the AI system affects individuals in the EU, and categorises AI systems into risk levels.

The Platform Workers Directive entered into force on 1 December 2024. Member states will have two years to incorporate the provisions of the Directive into their national legislation. The Directive provides new rights aimed at promoting transparency, fairness and accountability in algorithmic management used in platform work.

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International convention on AI

Since coming to power, on 5 September 2024, the Labour government signed the new international treaty, the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law. The AI treaty has also been signed by the European Commission.

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Managing AI risk

Due to the increasing use of AI in the workplace, there is a greater need to assess and manage the associated risks. In March and November 2024, new guidance was published by the government and the ICO specifically aimed at AI use in the HR and recruitment sectors. There are several actions that an employer can take to mitigate the risks, such as undertaking risk assessments and carrying out due diligence with suppliers of AI systems.

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Immigration

From 31 December 2024, the sponsor licence guidance was updated to prohibit Skilled Worker sponsors from passing on the cost of the sponsor licence fee or associated administrative costs or the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fee (for CoS assigned on or after 31 December 2024). 
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Further Information

If you would like any additional information, please contact Anne-Marie Pavitt or Sophie Banks on: hello@dixcartuk.com


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The data contained within this document is for general information only. No responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies. Readers are also advised that the law and practice may change from time to time. This document is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute accounting, legal or tax advice. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from any action as a result of the contents of this document.


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Employment Law General Update – November 2024

Employment Law

This month’s updates emphasise transparency and fairness in employment practices. The ICO issued guidance for AI recruitment tools, while the Home Office piloted its new ‘Sponsor UK’ system. A House of Lords report urged stronger action on modern slavery, and new Employment Rights Bill factsheets from the DBT clarified worker protections. Government consultations are underway on agency worker rights, fire and rehire, industrial relations, and statutory sick pay, with upcoming deadlines in December 2024.

  • Data Protection: Making AI recruitment tools better at protecting jobseekers’ information rights
  • Immigration: ‘Sponsor UK’ system rollout commences with GAE private beta pilot, and other guidance updates
  • Modern Slavery: UK’s approach to modern slavery falls behind other nations’ progress
  • New legislation: The Department for Business and Trade publishes Employment Rights Bill factsheets
  • Government Consultations: New consultations launched on the application of zero-hours contract measures for agency workers, on collective redundancy and fire and rehire, on creating a modern framework for industrial relations and on how to strengthen statutory sick pay

Data Protection: Making AI recruitment tools better at protecting jobseekers’ information rights

The ICO has issued a set of recommendations to AI developers and providers of recruitment tools to ensure that jobseekers are not being unfairly excluded from roles or having their privacy compromised.

The ICO audited several providers and developers of AI tools for recruitment and made almost 300 recommendations. These included processing personal information fairly and keeping candidates informed about how the tool would use their information.   Ian Hulme, Director of Assurance, said: “Our report signals our expectations for the use of AI in recruitment, and we’re calling on other developers and providers to also action our recommendations as a priority. That’s so they can innovate responsibly while building trust in their tools from both recruiters and jobseekers.”   They have published their recommendations in a new audit report available on the ICO website.

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Immigration: ‘Sponsor UK’ system rollout commences with GAE private beta pilot, and other guidance updates

Updates to various Worker and Temporary Worker sponsor guidance documents on 24 October 2024 confirm that the Home Office has commenced the roll-out of its new ‘Sponsor UK’ IT system, which will apply initially to invited participating sponsors on a private beta pilot in the Temporary Worker Government Authorised Exchange (GAE) route. Such sponsors are able to use the new system from 24 October 2024, and a new Annex GA1 to the ‘Sponsor a Government Authorised Exchange Worker’ guidance sets out in detail how the new system will work in its private beta form. Related amendments have been made to the general sponsor guidance documents to exclude these sponsors from various aspects (the rest of the general guidance will continue to apply to them), and to add certain additional duties. Details of the private beta pilot, and other guidance updates are set out below.

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Modern Slavery: UK’s approach to modern slavery falls behind other nations’ progress

The ‘House of Lords’ Modern Slavery Act 2015 Committee has published a report ‘The Modern Slavery Act 2015: becoming world-leading again‘. This finds that recent changes to UK immigration laws have weakened victim support, while fragmented labour market regulations hinder effective responses to evolving modern slavery issues, particularly in the care sector. Additionally, while the Modern Slavery Act 2015 aimed to enhance supply chain transparency, global best practices now require companies to conduct due diligence and actively eliminate modern slavery in their operations. The report makes the following recommendations regarding these issues:

  • Migrants who have been trafficked as victims of modern slavery should lie at the heart of government policy and of any future legislation about illegal migration;
  • The Government should establish an arms-length Single Enforcement Body to ensure stronger compliance with relevant labour rights and standards;
  • As a minimum, the Single Enforcement Body should act as a single point of contact for labour exploitation across all sectors;
  • The Government should introduce legislation requiring companies meeting the threshold to undertake modern slavery due diligence in their supply chains and to take reasonable steps to address problems; and
  • It is recommended that the Government consult businesses on potential changes, looking closely at the issues raised in the Report and giving due consideration to small and medium sized companies’ ability to meet any new requirements.

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New legislation: The Department for Business and Trade publishes Employment Rights Bill factsheets

The Department for Business and Trade has published factsheets which set out what each policy or framework within the Employment Rights Bill aims to do and explains how it will work. For more details, see the factsheets here.

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Government Consultations: New consultations launched on the application of zero-hours contract measures for agency workers, on collective redundancy and fire and rehire, on creating a modern framework for industrial relations and on how to strengthen statutory sick pay

The government has launched a consultation to seek views on the application of measures to address the one-sided flexibility in zero hours contracts. The government is considering to introduce a right to guaranteed hours based on the hours worked regularly and a right to reasonable notice for shifts, along with payment for shifts cancelled or shortened on short notice. The consultation seeks feedback specifically on the application of these measures to agency workers. The government will be consulting at a later date on the implementation of these two measures more generally.

More details can be read here. The consultation closes at 11:59pm on 2 December 2024.

Government launches consultation on collective redundancy and fire and rehire

The government has launched an open consultation seeking feedback on measures to enhance the collective redundancy framework and protect employees from fire and rehire practices. For the collective redundancy framework, the government wants input on a proposal to extend the maximum period of the protective award that a tribunal can award. The government is considering to either increase the protective award that a tribunal can award from 90 to 180 days or to remove the cap on the protective award entirely. The government is also seeking views on whether interim relief should be provided to employees who bring claims for the protective award. For fire and rehire practises, the government is seeking feedback on whether interim relief should be available to employees filing an unfair dismissal claim under the new right which will be introduced by the Employment Rights Bill.

The consultation details can be read here and it closes at 11:59pm on 2 December 2024.

The government begins consultation on creating a modern framework for industrial relations

The government has launched a consultation to modernise the laws governing trade unions and invites feedback on various specific measures. The consultation can be read in more detail here and will close at 11:59pm on 2 December 2024.

The government opens consultation to strengthen statutory sick pay

The consultation asks respondents what the percentage replacement rate should be for those earning below the current rate of statutory sick pay and will close at 11:59pm on 4 December 2024. The consultation was promised in the government’s ‘Next Steps to Make Work Pay’ document which was published alongside the Employment Rights Bill.

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Further Information:

If you would like any additional information, please contact Anne-Marie Pavitt or Sophie Banks on: hello@dixcartuk.com


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The data contained within this document is for general information only. No responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies. Readers are also advised that the law and practice may change from time to time. This document is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute accounting, legal or tax advice. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from any action as a result of the contents of this document.


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Employment Law Case Update – December 2023

Employment Law

As the year draws to a close we delve into some technical cases – an update on the case that just keeps on giving (Deliveroo), a look at how “heat of the moment” resignations play out and when they might be considered to have in fact been an unfair or wrongful dismissal, and how a tribunal got it wrong in not calling out a respondent’s alleged dishonesty.

  • Worker Status: Supreme Court unanimously agrees that Deliveroo riders were not in an employment relationship
  • Termination: No ‘special circumstances exception’ when assessing resignation or dismissal
  • Tribunals: Tribunal’s failure to allege dishonesty amounted to a serious procedural irregularity

Worker Status: Supreme Court unanimously agrees that Deliveroo riders were not in an employment relationship

On 21 November 2023, the Supreme Court handed down its judgment in Independent Workers Union of Great Britain v Central Arbitration Committee [2023] UKSC 43. The issues at stake were, did the Central Arbitration Committee’s refusal to accept the Union’s application to be recognised by Deliveroo for collective bargaining interfere with the rights of Deliveroo riders to form and join a trade union under Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights? If so, was this interference justified? Should the courts below have construed section 296(1)(b) of the 1992 Act so as to give effect to Article 11?

This appeal concerns collective bargaining rights in respect of Deliveroo riders. The appellant, the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (“the Union”) is an independent trade union whose members include Deliveroo riders. The second respondent, Roofoods Ltd (“Deliveroo”) operates the Deliveroo food and drinks delivery service.

On 28 November 2016, the Union submitted an application to the first respondent, the Central Arbitration Committee (“the CAC”), that the Union should be recognised by Deliveroo for collective bargaining in respect of a group of Deliveroo riders in the Camden zone. Applications are considered by the CAC in accordance with Schedule A1 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (“the 1992 Act”). The CAC refused to accept the Union’s application on the basis that the riders were not “workers” within the meaning of the 1992 Act. This was because Deliveroo did not require them to provide delivery services personally, but permitted the use of substitutes, i.e. they did not provide “personal service”.

Both the High Court and the Court of Appeal dismissed the Union’s claim for judicial review of the CAC’s decision. The Union then appealed to the Supreme Court.

In a unanimous decision delivered by Lord Lloyd-Jones and Lady Rose in a joint judgment, the Supreme Court agreed with the previous decisions of the lower courts that the Deliveroo riders in question did not have an employment relationship with Deliveroo for the purposes of article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) (i.e. the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association with others, including the right to form and to join trade unions), and therefore the provisions of that article did not apply to them.

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Termination: No ‘special circumstances exception’ when assessing resignation or dismissal

In Omar v Epping Forest District Citizens Advice [2023] EAT 132 the EAT had to consider the position of a claimant who had resigned ‘in the heat of the moment’ and then sought to retract the resignation. The claimant had contended that he should not be treated as having resigned as the situation fell within the so-called ‘special circumstances exception’ recognised in Sothern v Frank Charlesly [1981] IRLR 278. He argued that he had been unfairly and wrongfully dismissed. The employment tribunal disagreed and found that the claimant had resigned.

The EAT held, among other things, that the employment tribunal had erred in law by failing to make adequate findings of fact and failed to direct itself properly in accordance with the applicable legal principles set out in Sothern v Frank Charlesly. The EAT summarised the case law on the issue, including, among other things, that:

  • there is no such thing as the ‘special circumstances exception’; the same rules apply in all cases where notice of dismissal or resignation is given in the employment context;
  • words of dismissal or resignation, or words that potentially constitute words of dismissal or resignation, must be construed objectively in all the circumstances of the case in accordance with normal rules of contractual interpretation (i.e. the reasonably bystander test);
  • the subjective uncommunicated intention of the speaking party is not relevant, but the subjective understanding of the recipient is relevant but not determinative in assisting the tribunal form a judgment as to what the reasonable bystander would have thought.

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Tribunals: Tribunal’s failure to allege dishonesty amounted to a serious procedural irregularity

In Stuart Harris Associates Ltd v Gobudhun [2023] EAT 145 the EAT dismissed the respondent employer’s appeal against the decision of the employment tribunal that held that: first, the claimant employee had been constructively dismissed; and second, the respondent had been either dishonest or incompetent when they engaged in the expenses practice that had led to the claimant’s resignation.

The respondent contended that the employment tribunal had erred in law since: (i) it had prejudged the case; (ii) descended into the arena by conducting their own extensive research into the law and practice of filing tax returns; and (iii) determined that the respondent’s principal, had been either ‘dishonest’ or ‘incompetent’ when it had not been put to him in terms that his conduct was dishonest or incompetent.

The EAT held, among other things, that: (i) the failure to put to the respondent that he had acted dishonestly amounted to a serious procedural irregularity which meant that the finding of dishonesty had to be set aside; and (ii) there had been no prejudgment of the case and the employment tribunal’s conduct regarding the hearing had not been unfair.

Consequently, given that the employment tribunal’s conclusions as to unfair constructive dismissal could stand irrespective of the finding as to dishonesty, the decision overall remained and was not set aside.

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The data contained within this document is for general information only. No responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies. Readers are also advised that the law and practice may change from time to time. This document is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute accounting, legal or tax advice. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from any action as a result of the contents of this document.


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Employment Law General Update – November 2023

Employment Law

This month’s employment law updates cover various critical issues. The Work and Pensions Committee seeks input on statutory sick pay, while the Government has published its response to the EU employment law consultations. The Home Office updates illegal working penalty guidelines, and we have Government guidance on the handling labour unions before strikes. The TUC’s data on the disability pay gap underscores the importance of inclusivity, and a WoRC report examines systemic factors in the exploitation of migrant workers. Stay informed for compliance in this evolving employment landscape.

  • Sick Pay: Work and Pensions Committee publishes call for evidence on statutory sick pay
  • Retained EU Employment Law: Government response to consultation and new draft regulations available
  • Immigration: Home Office publishes updated code of practice on illegal working penalties
  • Trade Unions: Government publishes guidance on issuing work notices ahead of strike action
  • Disability: TUC publishes latest data on disability pay gap
  • Immigration: WoRC report looks at systemic drivers of UK migrant worker exploitation

 Sick Pay: Work and Pensions Committee publishes call for evidence on statutory sick pay

The Work and Pensions Committee has issued a call for evidence on statutory sick pay (SSP), requesting the public views and ability to submit evidence until Friday, 8 December 2023. The Work and Pensions Select Committee calls for this inquiry to assess the existing ‘effectiveness of SSP in supporting claimants and if SSP should be reformed to better enable a recipient’s recovery and return to work’.

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Retained EU Employment Law: Government response to consultation and new draft regulations available

Retained EU Employment Law consultation response

The government has officially released its response to the ‘Retained EU Employment Law’ consultation, addressing proposed reforms within the Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR) related to annual leave, holiday pay calculations, and record-keeping requirements. Additionally, it responded to the consultation concerning the annual leave entitlement calculation for part-year and irregular hours workers in light of the Supreme Court’s Harpur Trust v Brazel 2022 ICR 1380 decision.

The government has proposed the introduction of a ‘rolled-up’ holiday pay system for irregular hours and part-year workers and allow for an annual leave accrual method of 12.07% of hours worked for these groups. This means that instead of receiving a separate payment when taking annual leave, certain workers, specifically those with irregular hours or part-year employment (which may include agency workers), will get an extra amount added to their regular pay.

However, the government has decided not to proceed with the idea of creating a single annual leave entitlement that combines the ‘basic’ and ‘additional’ annual leave entitlements into a single 5.6-week entitlement (i.e. four weeks required by EU law and the 1.6 weeks mandated by the Working Time Regulations). Instead, they want to maintain two separate “pots” of annual leave with two different pay rates. This means that workers will still receive four weeks of leave at their normal pay rate and 1.6 weeks at a basic pay rate.

Additionally, the government plans to pass laws to make it clearer what should be included in the calculation of normal remuneration for holiday pay. They are also considering more significant changes to how holiday pay rates are determined.

In response to the Harpur Trust ruling, the initial proposal suggested using a 52-week reference period to calculate annual leave entitlement. However, many people raised concerns about the extra work this would create and the challenges it posed for workers whose hours changed from year to year or for those in their first year of employment.

To keep things simpler, the government has opted for a different approach. They will use an accrual method to figure out annual leave entitlement, where workers get 12.07% of the hours they’ve worked in a specific pay period. This method was commonly used before the Harpur Trust decision and better reflects the hours a worker has actually worked in the current year. For other workers in their first year of employment, things will remain the same. They will continue to accrue annual leave by receiving 1/12th of their statutory entitlement on the first day of each month and adjusting it accordingly.

The response also mentions that the government will maintain certain EU case laws to protect workers’ rights regarding carrying over unused annual leave when they can’t take it due to maternity, family-related leave, or being sick. They will also introduce a way for irregular hours and part-year workers to accrue annual leave when they’ve had periods of maternity, family-related leave, or sickness.

Additionally, the government will proceed with changes to record-keeping requirements in the Working Time Regulations (WTR). This change clarifies that businesses do not have to keep daily records of how many hours each worker works. This clarification aims to address concerns that a previous ruling by the European Court of Justice might have required employers to track the exact daily hours worked by each employee, rather than maintaining adequate and proportionate records based on the workplace and working patterns.

Regarding TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings), the government will move forward with its proposal to simplify consultation obligations during a transfer. Small businesses (with fewer than 50 employees) will be allowed to directly consult with employees if there are no existing employee representatives, avoiding the need to organize elections for new representatives. Additionally, businesses of any size can directly consult with employees (if there are no existing representatives) when a transfer involves fewer than ten employees.Top of Form

Draft Regulations

The Department of Business and Trade has published the draft Equality Act 2010 (Amendment) Regulations 2023. The draft SI restates some protections in relation to pregnancy, maternity and breastfeeding, indirect discrimination, access to employment and occupation, equal pay and the definition of disability which would otherwise be lost from 1 January 2024 under the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (REUL(RR)A 2023).

These draft regulations are proposed to reproduce in domestic law certain interpretive effects of retained EU law which, under REUL(RR)A 2023, will cease to apply to the UK statute book after the end of 2023. This will mean that, in the areas covered by this instrument, the law will continue to have the same effect after the end of 2023 as it did before. They are due to come into force on 1 January 2024.

The draft Employment Rights (Amendment, Revocation and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 will amend the Working Time Regulations 1998 (in relation to record-keeping, paid holiday for irregular hours workers and part-year workers, normal pay, and the carrying forward of paid holiday) and the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (in relation to information and consultation obligations on small businesses for transfers on or after 1 July 2024) and revoke the European Cooperative Society (Involvement of Employees) Regulations 2006. They are due to come into force on 1 January 2024.

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Immigration: Home Office publishes updated code of practice on illegal working penalties

The Home Office has published a new draft Code of Practice on the civil penalty schemes for employers (preventing illegal working). The draft is an update to the version published in March 2022 and will be the sixth version of the code. This latest version of the code will be applied to all right to work checks from 22 January 2024 including where a follow-up check is required to maintain a statutory excuse, even if the initial check was undertaken using a previous version of the code which was current at the time.

The draft code has been amended further to the issue of draft Statutory Instruments (SIs) which will raise the starting point for penalties to £45,000 for a breach (if there are no previous breaches in the last three years) and £60,000 for repeated breaches. The draft codes will come into force at the same time as the related SIs, which are: (Employment of Adults Subject to Immigration Control) (Maximum Penalty) (Amendment) Order 2023 and the Immigration (Restrictions on Employment and Residential Accommodation) (Codes of Practice) (Amendment) Order 2023. These are each stated to come into force on 22 January 2024, or, if later, on the twenty-first day after the day on which it is made. However, the code assumes 22 January 2024 as a commencement date.

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Trade Unions: Government publishes guidance on issuing work notices ahead of strike action

The Department of Business and Trade has published guidance for employers, trade unions and workers on issuing work notices ahead of strike action. Work notices, which were introduced under the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023, allow employers to require a workforce to meet minimum service levels for an upcoming strike period where the trade union has given notice to the employer of the strike and the employer provides a service covered by minimum service level regulations.

The new guidance is designed to be read alongside the government’s range of guidance on industrial action which can be found here.

The guidance covers:

  • the purpose of a work notice and the steps for preparing it;
  • considerations when preparing a work notice;
  • considerations upon deciding to issue a work notice;
  • consulting with trade unions;
  • guidance on producing a work notice;
  • guidance on notifying workers of a notice;
  • duties on workers and trade unions following issue of a work notice;
  • data protection issues.

The full guidance can be found here.

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Disability: TUC publishes latest data on disability pay gap

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has published new analysis [TUC slams “zero progr<a id=”back”></a>ess” on disability pay gap in last decade | TUC] of the pay gap between non-disabled and disabled workers. According to data from the TUC, the pay gap is currently higher than it was 10 years ago, with non-disabled workers earning approximately 14.6% more than disabled workers.

The key findings of the analysis include:

  • the pay gap is only marginally lower than it was when the TUC launched disability Pay Gap Day in 2016/17;
  • disabled women face the biggest pay penalty with non-disabled men earning an average of 30% more;
  • the industry with the biggest pay gap is financial and industrial services which currently stands at 33.2%;
  • disabled workers are twice as likely to be unemployed than non-disabled workers;
  • one in 10 BME disabled workers are unemployed compared to nearly one in 40 white non-disabled workers;
  • disabled workers are more likely to be on zero-hours contracts than non-disabled workers.

The TUC has called for action from the government to put an end to discrimination against disabled workers in the labour market and has backed Labour’s New Deal for Working People.

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Immigration: WoRC report looks at systemic drivers of UK migrant worker exploitation

The charity Work Rights Centre (WoRC) has published a report which looks at what lies behind increasing reports of migrant worker exploitation in the UK, particularly in certain sectors such as health and care. Drawing on 40 case studies, interviews with caseworkers, and policy analysis, the report identifies the post-Brexit work sponsorship system and piecemeal/weak labour enforcement as two key systemic drivers. It makes a number of recommendations, including reforms to the work sponsorship system (replacing employer sponsorship entirely, or alternatively a range of reforms to the sponsorship system to facilitate protection of sponsored migrants against exploitation), increasing protections for all workers (including establishing a Single Enforcement Body for all labour rights, giving protection against unfair dismissal from the first day of employment and instituting secure reporting of exploitative practices), and implementing a migrant worker welfare strategy (including the creation of an independent Migrant Commissioner role).

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Further Information:

If you would like any additional information, please contact Anne-Marie Pavitt or Sophie Banks on: hello@dixcartuk.com


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The data contained within this document is for general information only. No responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies. Readers are also advised that the law and practice may change from time to time. This document is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute accounting, legal or tax advice. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from any action as a result of the contents of this document.


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Employment Law General Update – September 2023

Employment Law

We bring you an update of some key pieces of information affecting employment law, and potentially employers, published over the last two months to help keep you up to date.

  • Immigration: Number of Home Office-approved sponsor employers, by visa route, as at 13 September 2023
  • Economic Crime: Lords to drop Anti-Money Laundering provisions in Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill
  • Trade Unions: TUC to report government to ILO over Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023
  • Data Protection: ICO seeks views on first phase of draft biometric data guidance

Immigration: Number of Home Office-approved sponsor employers, by visa route, as at 13 September 2023

The Home Office has published the number of approved employer sponsors, according to visa route, as listed on the Home Office’s register of licensed sponsors on the specified date. As at 13 September 2023, Skilled Worker sponsors account for the majority of employers (80.70%). 10.75% of sponsors have a Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker licence, and the remaining 13 work routes account for the remaining (8.55%).

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Economic Crime: Lords to drop Anti-Money Laundering provisions in Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill

Peers in the House of Lords on 11 September 2023 sought to strike a compromise with the Commons over controversial provisions in economic crime legislation by curtailing a new corporate criminal offence while also limiting the size of companies caught in its net. Peers dropped plans by unanimous consent to expand corporate criminal liability in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill to include a new offence making it a crime for companies that fail to prevent money laundering. But members of Parliament’s upper chamber also voted 211-185 in favour of exempting only the very smallest of companies from a government offence holding companies criminally liable for failing to prevent fraud.

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Trade Unions: TUC to report government to ILO over Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has announced that it is reporting the government to the International Labour Organization (ILO) over the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023. The TUC has stated that the legislation falls far below international legal standards and there are concerns that the legislation could be in breach of the UK-EU trade agreement. The ILO has already warned the government that existing and prospective legislation should be in line with ILO standards.

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Workers’ Rights: TUC launches AI taskforce to help fill legislative gap

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has announced the launch of a new AI taskforce as part of its ‘urgent’ call for new legislation safeguarding workers’ rights. The taskforce has been launched following warnings that the UK is ‘way behind the curve’ on AI regulation, with many EU and other countries already drafting legislation specific to AI in the workplace. The taskforce will consist of leading specialists in law, technology, politics, HR and the voluntary sector with the primary purpose of filling any current legislative gaps in UK employment law around AI regulation at work. The taskforce will aim to publish an expert-drafted AI and Employment Bill in the early part of 2024.

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Data Protection: ICO seeks views on first phase of draft biometric data guidance

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published the first phase of draft biometric and data guidance, which explains how data protection law applies when biometric data is used in biometric recognition systems. The consultation on the first phase will close on 20 October 2023, with the second phase opening for a call of evidence in 2024.

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HMRC Update: August Employer Bulletin

HMRC has published its bi-monthly magazine providing the latest information on payroll-related topics for employers and agents.

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If you would like any additional information, please contact Anne-Marie Pavitt or Sophie Banks on: hello@dixcartuk.com.


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The data contained within this document is for general information only. No responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies. Readers are also advised that the law and practice may change from time to time. This document is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute accounting, legal or tax advice. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from any action as a result of the contents of this document.


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Employment Law General Update – June 2023

Employment Law

This month we bring you updates on government reforms to employment law and the ping-pong battle over which laws shall be retained following Brexit; which companies are failing to pay national minimum wage, a review in diversity and goals for the 4 day week for political parties to endorse; our UK strike laws are being critiqued and we will soon know which occupations we are most lacking in the UK.

  • Brexit: Government consults on reforms to working time rules, holiday pay and TUPE
  • Brexit: Lords put further amendments back to Commons on REULRR Bill
  • Pay: Department for Business and Trade names companies failing to pay NMW
  • Diversity: Parker review sets new targets for FTSE 350 and private companies
  • Working Patterns: 4 Day Week campaign launches Mini Manifesto
  • Trade Unions: International Labour Organization comments on UK strike laws
  • Immigration: MAC intends to publish its shortage occupation list review in autumn 2023

Brexit: Government consults on reforms to working time rules, holiday pay and TUPE

On 12 May 2023, the government published a consultation paper, setting out its plans regarding the future of retained EU employment law. The consultation paper confirms the government’s intention to keep retained EU employment laws in the following areas without any change: family leave rights (maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave), ‘atypical’ workers’ rights (part-time workers, fixed-term workers and agency workers), and information and consultation rights. However, certain reforms are proposed in the areas of working time, paid holiday rights and rights upon the transfer of a business or an outsourcing. The government says it has identified areas for reform of laws it considers are ‘too onerous for business to be used effectively or too complex for workers to know, understand and use’. Amanda Steadman, principal knowledge lawyer at Brahams Dutt Badrick French LLP, sets out in her article the proposed changes in the consultation and the next steps.

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Brexit: Lords put further amendments back to Commons on REULRR Bill

On 24 May 2023, the House of Commons debated the Lords amendments to the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill (REULRR Bill), with a majority of MPs disagreeing with three amendments. Lords amendments 6, 15 and 42 were rejected and Lords amendments 1 and 16 were further amended. Lords amendments 2 to 5, 7 to 14, 17 to 41 and 43 were agreed to.

On 20 June 2023, the House of Lords debated Commons amendments to the REULRR Bill. The Lords approved two amended motions, proposing amendments in lieu of those previously rejected by the House of Commons. These amendments relate to the two outstanding issues in debate—environmental protection and parliamentary scrutiny. Continuing the ‘ping pong’ process, the House of Commons considered the Lords message on 21 June 2023, with the government moving that the Lords amendments be rejected again. The Bill was scheduled to return to the House of Lords on 26 June 2023.

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Pay: Department for Business and Trade names companies failing to pay NMW

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has published the names of 202 employers who have failed to provide their lowest paid staff the national minimum wage (NMW). Approximately 63,000 workers across the companies did not receive NMW as a result of deductions from wages (39%), failure by the companies to properly compensate for working time (39%) and incorrect apprenticeship rates (21%).

In the top 3 in this Round 19 are WH Smith Retail Holdings Ltd, Lloyds Pharmacy Ltd and Marks and Spencer PLC. Some in the list owe as little as £5500 to one employee but the larger offenders have failed to pay cumulatively hundreds of thousands of pounds to thousands of workers.

Employers are reminded that the minimum wage law applies to all parts of the UK. Employers should always carry out the necessary checks (guidance is available on the Gov website: Calculating the Minimum Wage), and HMRC consider all complaints from workers, so they are reminding workers to check their pay with advice available through the Check your pay website.

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Diversity: Parker review sets new targets for FTSE 350 and private companies

The Parker Review Committee has published a 2023 update report on ‘Improving the Ethnic Diversity of UK Business’. The independent review, which published its first report in 2016, was commissioned by the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to consult on ethnic diversity in UK boards. The review also set several diversity targets for FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies. The update contains the results of the review’s survey of those targets in 2022 in addition to a number of new targets to be achieved by 2027.

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Working Patterns: 4 Day Week campaign launches Mini Manifesto

The 4 Day week campaign has published a ‘Mini Manifesto’, which they are calling on political parties to endorse ahead of the next general election. 4 Day Week is a national campaign for a 32-hour working week with no reduction in pay. The manifesto lays out the campaign’s key principles and goals.

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Trade Unions: International Labour Organization comments on UK strike laws

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has critiqued the UK’s strike laws and called for the UK government to bring union laws in line with international law. In a rare intervention that has not been used against the UK since 1995, the ILO issued an instruction for ministers to seek assistance from the ILO and report back on progress by 1 September 2023. The Trades Union Congress has called this ‘hugely embarrassing’ for ministers.

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Immigration: MAC intends to publish its shortage occupation list review in autumn 2023

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has confirmed, by way of an update to its guidance webpage, that it intends to publish its report reviewing the shortage occupation list in autumn 2023. This is later than the anticipated date of June 2023, as stated in previous press releases.

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Further Information:

If you would like any additional information, please contact Anne-Marie Pavitt or Sophie Banks on: hello@dixcartuk.com


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The data contained within this document is for general information only. No responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies. Readers are also advised that the law and practice may change from time to time. This document is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute accounting, legal or tax advice. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from any action as a result of the contents of this document.


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Employment Law General Update – February 2023

Employment Law

We bring you a month of reports and inquiries. Two reports from a think tank and the IES into how women’s finances are affected by their working life and what impact this can have on the gender pension gap. A new Bill has been given government backing to give zero hours workers more certainty by requesting a more predictable work pattern. A troubling and impactful inquiry has been published into the TSSA, with stark consequences, and a study finds that despite having whistleblowing policies in place, many require better implementation and training.

  • Pensions: Think tank publishes two reports on the gender pension gap with recommendations
  • Zero Hours Contracts: Government backs law to give workers right to request more predictable work pattern
  • Trade Unions: Inquiry finds Sexual harassment rife at TSSA
  • Whistleblowing: Majority of firms have whistleblowing policies, but lack formal training for those handling concerns, study finds

Pensions: Think tank publishes two reports on the gender pension gap with recommendations

Two reports from think tank Phoenix Insights and the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) exploring women’s finances through the lens of the workplace, set out a number of recommendations to assist women’s ability to save thereby closing the gender pension gap. The gender pay gap already disadvantages women’s future finances because it means they are more likely to contribute less to their retirement savings than their male peers. The research found that this disparity is made worse by life events, including motherhood, menopause, divorce, childcare, menstruation and caring responsibilities which can all disproportionately affect a woman’s earnings, and therefore pension contributions.

Some of the key findings in the reports include that the gender pay gap is a significant contributor to the gender pension gap, yet women on average contribute a larger proportion of their salary to their pension. On average, women are contributing a higher percentage of their monthly income into their pension than men up until middle age – 6.1% compared to 5.8% aged 35-44 by middle age – where care responsibilities fall to one in four women in the UK – men are paying almost £80 more per month into their pension than women. Women are more likely than men to fall under the auto-enrolment threshold (women 35% : men 11%). Automatic enrolment closed the contribution gap in participation but increased the gap in terms of contribution. Women are more likely to be economically inactive due to long-term health conditions than men. There is limited awareness among employers of the causes and consequences of the gender pension gap, resulting in a lack of action over and above the statutory minimum allowances that seek to improve the savings capacity of women across the different life stages.

The think tank report recommends employers should be required to inform employees about the pensions impact that changes to their working hours and earnings may have, to help close the gender pension gap.

The opportunity for employers – five key recommendations:

  • re-enrol workers into pension schemes annually, rather than the statutory three years, to give workers the opportunity to re-engage if they have taken career breaks or have opted out because of a lack of affordability
  • ensure employer pension contributions continue during periods of parental leave
  • adopt a minimum of five days unpaid leave per year for those with childcare responsibilities, and where possible, five days paid carer’s leave
  • make flexible working the norm from day one and highlight this across all job roles
  • ensure workplace health policies offer explicit and visible support for reproductive conditions such as miscarriage, fertility treatment, for those diagnosed with endometriosis and managing menopause symptoms

The role of government – five key recommendations:

  • legally require employers to provide information on how contractual changes impact pension contributions
  • revisit the Carer’s Leave Bill to ensure that unpaid careers can access up to ten days statutory paid leave
  • the legal right to flexible working should be available from the first day of employment, and the number of reasons to reject flexibility should reduce from eight to two
  • widen the coverage of auto-enrolment by lowering age and earnings eligibility threshold to 18 years and £0, respectively
  • review the advice and guidance boundary so that a larger population can access tailored and reliable financial support

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Zero Hours Contracts: Government backs law to give workers right to request more predictable work pattern

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has announced that the government is backing Blackpool South MP Scott Benton’s Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill. The Bill seeks to ensure that all employees, even agency workers, receive more predictable working patterns.

‘Hard working staff on zero hours contracts across the country put their lives on hold to make themselves readily available for shifts that may never actually come’ said Labour Markets Minister, Kevin Hollinrake. ‘Employers having one-sided flexibility over their staff is unfair and unreasonable. This Bill will ensure workers can request more predictable working patterns where they want them, so they can get on with their daily lives.’ The Bill provides that if an employee’s existing working pattern lacks certainty in terms of the hours they work, the times they work, or if it is a fixed term contract for less than 12 months, they may make a formal application to change their working pattern to make it more predictable. The move comes as part of a package of policies designed to further workers’ rights, such as:

  • paid neonatal care leave
  • requiring employers to ensure that all tips, gratuities, and service charges are paid to workers in full
  • entitling unpaid carers to a period of unpaid leave
  • providing employees with a day one right to request flexible working, and a greater say over when, where, and how they work

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Trade Unions: Inquiry finds sexual harassment rife at TSSA

A misogynistic, ‘mafia-like’ culture of sexual harassment, bullying and violent language has permeated one of Britain’s transport unions, a new independent inquiry has revealed. An investigation by Baroness Helena Kennedy KC into the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) concluded on 8 February 2023 that ‘there has been sexual harassment, discrimination and bullying within the TSSA and that the leadership and culture has enabled these behaviours through wilful blindness, power hoarding and poor practices’.

Kennedy’s report called for sweeping changes in an organisation where absolute power was concentrated in ‘a very small number of hands’, and called for new leadership at the TSSA. The TSSA opened the investigation in September 2022 after its General Secretary at the time, Manuel Cortes, was accused of sexual harassment by several women. Cortes, who has since retired with an undisclosed payout, denies the allegations. Kennedy pointed out in her report that neither the internal leadership of the TSSA nor the executive committee understood that to say they had not witnessed inappropriate behaviour is not an acceptable response to an ‘atmosphere of fear’ and an environment of ‘open secrets’.

Only two of the 50 people who volunteered to speak to Kennedy as she carried out her inquiry had any positive words to say about the TSSA’s culture, according to her report. The rest described a ‘dysfunctional’ and ‘mafia-like’ culture across the TSSA. The organisation was sexist, racist and homophobic, they said.

Kennedy said that a ‘distressing element’ of her inquiry was realising how little senior leaders at the TSSA seemed to have ‘moved with the times’. Their approach to management was ‘controlling’ and described by many staff members as bullying. The barrister said that, combined with governance failings, meant the ‘outdated attitudes of scepticism and disbelief of women’ formed a ‘dangerous mixture’.

Kennedy noted that the recent history of ‘wage suppression’, particularly in the public sector, and the ‘casual erosion of employment rights’ through precarious work points to an urgent need for healthy trade unions. She recommended a sweeping change of leadership, a realistic time-frame for reform and ‘serious investment of time in culture change’ to make a success of the TSSA.

TSSA said in response that the report made ‘difficult reading’ and highlighted serious problems that the union had to tackle. A spokesperson said the TSSA recognised the need for sweeping reform and stated its commitment to tackle institutional issues and drive through a culture change. ‘As a union, TSSA fights for equality, fairness and social justice for all, regularly winning on equality issues for our members’, the spokesperson said. ‘But it is clear from this report that our union has not followed the values we aspire to for our members.’

The President and Treasurer of the TSSA have stood down with immediate effect and interim replacements had been appointed, the spokesperson added. The TSSA has confirmed it is committed to take comprehensive, considered and meaningful action to address [the report’s] findings, and to enable the necessary further investigation and decisions to be made, the TSSA has suspended all five senior members of staff named in the report, including former General Secretary, Manuel Cortes.

Responding to the report, the TUC stated that ‘sexual harassment and bullying have no place in the trade union movement or any workplace. The TUC believes the women who came forward to share their experiences’. The TSSA have been asked to meet with the TUC General Secretary and the TUC President to discuss next steps.

The Kennedy report comes after a similar 2020 investigation into the GMB, conducted by Karon Monaghan KC, concluded that the GMB is institutionally sexist, and bullying, misogyny, cronyism and sexual harassment are endemic within the GMB.

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Whistleblowing: Majority of firms have whistleblowing policies, but lack formal training for those handling concerns, study finds

On 16 February 2023, an article by People Management reported that a study by whistleblowing and compliance services provider Safecall, which surveyed HR managers and directors from 222 organisations, found that that while 17 per cent of respondent organisations lacked a whistleblowing policy, the majority (83 per cent) did have one in place, and for those companies that provide internal whistleblowing services, only 58 per cent of their investigators had been formally trained.

The report also discovered:

  • more than two fifths (42 per cent) of employees responsible for managing whistleblowing complaints have either self-taught, learned their skills through experience, or have no experience at all
  • more than half (57 per cent) of HR professionals surveyed believed that their employees were actively encouraged to report wrongdoing.
  • however, just 42.6 per cent said employees “generally feel safe” to do so, 
  • the majority (74 per cent) of HR professionals could not be certain that whistleblowers were confident in raising concerns, and
  • one in five (20 per cent) organisations have whistleblowing processes that their employees would find to be “highly untrustworthy”.

The article goes on to discuss various aspects of having whistleblowing policies. A policy that emphasises how employees can bring matters to their employer’s attention, which may help employers avoid or at least reduce the risk of employment claims by increasing the likelihood that disclosures will be readily identified as qualifying as a protected disclosures.

However, problems arise where there is a fundamental lack of trust between an organisation and its workforce. Having a whistleblowing policy that ensures there is a clear procedure that must be followed by all staff when a complaint is made can support businesses in fostering a transparent and open company culture. The policy should also demonstrate that staff should not be victimised or subjected to any detrimental treatment as a result of bringing a complaint.

Last year, legal experts warned HR professionals of the consequences of workers whistleblowing on their former and current employers for coronavirus job retention schemes, with law firm Pinsent Masons reporting that 13,775 furlough fraud whistleblowing reports were made to HMRC.

Meanwhile, a previous People Management report found that one in five (20 per cent) employees who had gone to their bosses with concerns over furlough fraud and breaches of Covid-19 safety rules were sacked as result. 

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Further Information:

If you would like any additional information, please contact Anne-Marie Pavitt or Sophie Banks on: hello@dixcartuk.com


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The data contained within this document is for general information only. No responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies. Readers are also advised that the law and practice may change from time to time. This document is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute accounting, legal or tax advice. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from any action as a result of the contents of this document.


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Employment Law General Update – January 2023

Director services Employment Law

As we welcome in the fresh new year, there is a need to focus on helping employees with health issues as the NHS struggles more than ever. We highlight three areas where employers can make a real difference. Other challenges this year come from union strikes, and the government looks to balance the rights of strikers with continuing to provide minimum levels of service in specified public services in a new bill before the Commons, along with an update on the Neonatal Care Bill which covers parental leave. With people working more flexibly consultations have started on proposals to pro-rata holiday entitlement for part-year and irregular hours workers.

  • Employee Health: Three wellbeing challenges employers will need to tackle in 2023
  • Trade Unions: House of Commons library publishes briefing on Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill
  • Parental Leave: House of Commons publishes update on Neonatal Care Bill
  • Holiday Pay: BEIS consults on proposals to pro-rata holiday entitlement for part-year and irregular hours workers

 Employee Health: Three wellbeing challenges employers will need to tackle in 2023

Website, People Management, published an article on 20 January 2023 by Imogen Cardwell (Clinical Operations Director at PAM OH) promoting a proactive approach from employers to address health challenges facing employees including soaring cancer rates, increasing work-related illness and NHS delays. You can read the full article [here] but below is a summarised version.

She reports that with an NHS backlog of more than 7.2 million, it will impact more than a million employees, with 15 per cent of employees affected being forced to go on long-term sick leave, and 40 per cent of cancer patients are having to wait more than the 62-day target for life-saving cancer treatment . At the same time, two-fifths of employees believe work has made them sick, primarily due to work-related stress and musculoskeletal (MSK) issues. All of which means the NHS backlog, rising cancer cases and increasing work-related illness are the three major wellbeing challenges employers will need to address in 2023.

Challenge 1: Supporting employees with cancer

Employers will need to do more to support terminally ill employees to stay in work, so long as it is safe to do so. This is both a legal duty, under the Equality Act 2010, but also a moral duty. Integral to this is supporting employees by making the reasonable adjustments needed to allow them to remain in work, such as allowing flexible working or changing working hours for a period to account for someone’s needs.

Managers should be encouraged to talk to employees about what they think would help them and an occupational health clinician can also advise on appropriate adjustments that would work for the individual and business, both now and as the employee goes through important milestones and treatments.

Challenge 2: Ongoing NHS delays

Before the pandemic, employees would typically get signed off work by their GP until after they had been treated and had some post-surgery rehabilitation, which might have been around 6 weeks. With wait times of up to a year, this might not be acceptable going forward. Be aware of the risk of financial hardship, and long-term absence which has been shown to lead to lack of confidence, isolation and an increased risk of future worklessness.

Again, reasonable adjustments to help keep people in work will be critical going forward. Workplace wellbeing initiatives or occupational health advisors might also be able to support the individual with linked conditions, for example, losing weight to reduce joint pain and need for an operation.

Challenge 3: Soaring work-related illness

Days lost to work-related ill health cost billions per year, primarily work-related stress, depression or anxiety and MSK issues. What drives these issues? Employers should review their health data, including referrals to occupational health and health screening insights. As well as conduct ‘employee listening’ with surveys designed to uncover the root causes of work-related stress. This can often be addressed with workshops and manager training based on the HSE’s Management Standards for reducing stress, which look at everything from workload to working relationships.

In the case of soaring MSK issues, workplace risk assessments can be used to identify where employees are setting themselves up for future injury. While body mapping workshops, where employees place stickers on body maps to reveal where they have injuries or niggles, can also be used. These encourage employees to share tips and advice with one another on how they’re using the same equipment, or doing the same job, in a way that prevents injury. As it’s often the smallest behavioural changes that make the biggest difference.

A free guide to Health at Work is available from PAM Wellbeing here.

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Trade Unions: House of Commons library publishes briefing on Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill

The House of Commons (HoC) Library has published a research briefing on the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill, which was introduced to the House of Commons and given its first reading on 10 January 2023. The Bill enables regulations to be made by the Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (after consultation) setting minimum levels of service in specified public services so that those services do not completely shut down when there are strikes. For these purposes a strike does not include an overtime ban or a call-out ban. The Bill would grant the Secretary of State the power to set ‘minimum service regulations’ that could set minimum service levels for workers during strikes in the following sectors:

• health services

• fire and rescue services

• education services

• transport services

• decommissioning of nuclear installations and management of radioactive waste and spent fuel

• border security.

The Bill grants employers the power to give a ‘work notice’ to a trade union about any strike that affects a service subject to the Bill. The notice would have to specify which workers the employer to continue work in order to ensure service levels required by the minimum service regulations. Where a union fails to ‘take reasonable steps’ to ensure compliance with the work notice it loses protection from liability. Furthermore, the Bill removes automatic protection from unfair dismissal for any employee who strikes contrary to a valid work notice.

The second reading of the Bill was due to take place on 16 January 2023.

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Parental Leave: House of Commons publishes update on Neonatal Care Bill

The House of Commons (HoC) has published a briefing paper on the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill 2022–23, which was introduced by Stuart C McDonald MP as a Private Member’s Bill on 15 June 2022.

The Bill would introduce neonatal care leave and statutory neonatal care pay. As these are both new rights, they require the Minister to pass regulations to bring them into force. Parents whose children spend at least one week in neonatal care would qualify for the day one right to neonatal leave. The duration of the leave and when it must be taken would be set by regulations. It would be a minimum of one week and the period in which it could be availed of would last a minimum of 67 weeks starting from the date of the child’s birth. Employees with at least 26 weeks continuous service can avail of neonatal care pay during periods of neonatal leave. While limit and duration of pay would be set by regulations the minimum limit that could be claimed would be a minimum of 12 weeks.

There have been calls since 2014 for such a bill to be introduced. Following a consultation, the Government committed to introduce neonatal care and pay in March 2020. This was reiterated by the then Labour Markets Minister Paul Scully when he was responding to a parliamentary question on 25 May 2022. All MP’s who spoke during the second reading of the Bill were in favour of it passing. Similarly, all contributions at committee stage were in favour of the Bill and all amendments were accepted. However, concerns over the length of time the government were taking to implement the Bill were also raised.

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Holiday Pay: BEIS consults on proposals to pro-rata holiday entitlement for part-year and irregular hours workers

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is conducting a consultation on proposals to pro-rata holiday entitlement for part-year and irregular hours workers based on the annual hours they work. The consultation follows the recent Supreme Court judgment in Harpur Trust v Brazel [2022] IRLR 67.

As part of the consultation, BEIS proposes to introduce a holiday entitlement reference period for part-year and irregular hours workers. BEIS wants to ensure that holiday pay and entitlement is directly proportionate to the time part-year and irregular hours staff are working. The consultation also aims to understand how entitlement is currently calculated for agency workers and how the consultation proposal could be implemented.

The consultation may be of interest and impact employers, workers, business representative groups, unions, and those representing the interests of groups in the labour market.

Responses to the consultation can be completed online here. Responses can also be emailed to: holidayentitlementconsultation@beis.gov.uk. The consultation closes on 9 March 2023.

Further information regarding the Calculating holiday entitlement for part-year and irregular hours workers Consultation can be accessed here. The Proposal to simplify Holiday Pay and Entitlement Consultation Impact Assessment can be accessed here. 

Further Information:

If you would like any additional information, please contact Anne-Marie Pavitt or Sophie Banks on: hello@dixcartuk.com


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The data contained within this document is for general information only. No responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies. Readers are also advised that the law and practice may change from time to time. This document is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute accounting, legal or tax advice. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from any action as a result of the contents of this document.


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