Updates and support on the Employment Rights Bill

These changes are part of the first phase of the new Employment Rights Bill, more has been announced to form part of the Governments longer-term visions. 

• Strengthened existing rights. This will build upon maternity and redundancy rights. 
• Ending fire and rehire schemes. This reform will implement 'effective remedies against abuse and replace the inadequate statutory code.'
• Ban on some zero hour contracts. Employers will be obligated to offer their employees regular hours. Including providing reasonable notice and compensation for shift changes or cancelations. 
• Flexible working for all. Labour have announced that employees will be able to request a four day week will be a day one right. 
• Extended probation periods. This will allow employers to carry out thorough assessments on new employees. 
• Improved sick pay rights. They've proposed removing the lower earning limit (LEL) and waiting period for sick pay. 
• Legal protection for pregnant women. The change will make it unlawful to dismiss a pregnant woman during and in the six months following her maternity.
• Changes to unfair dismissal legislation. This change proposes to amend how long an employee must be in employment before being able to raise a tribunal claim for unfair dismissal.
• Duty to prevent sexual harassment. Employers will be obligated to take proactive steps such as investigating breaches and building action plans to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace under the Workers Protection Act.