The new Labour Government has just published its Employment Rights Bill, outlining 28 individual reforms as part of its manifesto commitment to Make Work Pay.
The reforms are aimed at improving the rights of workers from their first day in employment and the Government has stated it is aiming to promote two-sided flexibility that does not disproportionately favour the employer.
However, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has made a statement expressing caution. Chief executive, James Lowman, said: “The convenience sector employs almost half a million people across the UK, already providing genuine two-sided flexibility and secure local jobs, with over 95% of colleagues on permanent contracts.
“We welcome the intention of the Bill in providing additional security for colleagues, but have concerns about measures that impose unnecessary procedures for employers already doing the right thing. We are committed to working with the Government to ensure that the measures in the Bill are pro-worker, pro-business and pro-investment.”
The ACS says its members’ biggest concern is how new sick pay rules can help promote rather than reduce attendance at work. It says that in a tight labour market with a high proportion of the workforce unable to work due to illness, those people should be supported while giving confidence to businesses that employees will work if able.
James Lowman added: “In shops employing two or three people on shift at any one time, staff absence can see a business grind to a halt. We welcome the Government’s consultation on statutory sick pay and will highlight our concerns to ensure the new rules balance the needs of both workers and businesses.”
Measures announced in the Bill include ending zero hours contracts, giving greater protections against unfair dismissal from day one, day one rights for paternity, parental and bereavement leave for workers, making flexible working the default for all, steps to tackle low pay, requiring employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace and requiring reasonable notice for shift changes.
In addition, the Government is also consulting on a range of reforms to employment rules, including the introduction of a Right to Switch Off outside normal working hours and an expansion of the Equality (Race and Disparity) Bill to make it mandatory for large employers to report their ethnicity and disability pay gap.
The Employment Rights Bill and additional consultations are available in full here.
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