LRD guides and handbook January 2025

The Employment Rights Bill

The Labour government delivered on its commitment to introduce an Employment Rights Bill within its first 100 days of government. It was laid before parliament on 10 October 2024. This LRD guide looks in detail at what the bill contains, including:

offers of “guaranteed hours” to workers on zero-hours or minimum hours contracts;

day one unfair dismissal rights and the new statutory probation period;

restrictions on fire and rehire;

repeal of the most restrictive industrial action laws;

sick pay and parental leave rights from day one; and

collective bargaining in the care sector and for school support staff.

Consultation on some of the bill’s provisions has begun and the bill has reached the committee stage of its progress through Parliament. This guide includes amendments proposed by the committee. This LRD guide will help unions prepare for what’s coming and give union reps information they need to start negotiating for a better deal.

Introduction

Introduction [page 3] (354 words)

On 4 July 2024, the Tories were ousted from power in their worst general election defeat in history. The Labour government was elected with a huge ...
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What’s in the bill? [page 3] (662 words)

What’s missing? [page 5] (568 words)

Next steps [page 6] (430 words)

Chapter 1

1. Individual employment rights [page 8] (314 words)

Part 1 of the Employment Rights Bill makes changes to existing laws to extend or introduce additional rights for individuals. This chapter sets out ...
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Offer of guaranteed hours [page 8] (1,301 words)

Repeal of “predictable terms” Act [page 11] (193 words)

Flexible working [page 12] (204 words)

Statutory sick pay [page 12] (202 words)

Tips [page 13] (190 words)

Family and compassionate leave [page 13] (411 words)

Protection from harassment [page 14] (498 words)

Unfair dismissal [page 15] (1,795 words)

Chapter 2

2. Other employment matters [page 20] (546 words)

Part 2 of the Employment Rights Bill proposes changes to three areas of collective employment rights. These are: ...
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Protection of outsourced workers in the public sector [page 21] (207 words)

Equality action plans [page 22] (98 words)

Chapter 3

3. Public sector bargaining [page 23] (330 words)

Sectoral collective bargaining – where pay and conditions are negotiated with trade unions across a whole industry – was prevalent in post-war ...
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School support staff [page 23] (164 words)

How will the SSSNB work? (417 words)

Adult social care [page 25] (752 words)

Chapter 4

4. Trade unions and industrial action [page 28] (250 words)

Part 4 of the Employment Rights Bill deals with amendments to laws relating to trade unions and industrial action, which are regulated by the Trade ...
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Right of access to a workplace [page 28] (263 words)

Trade union recognition [page 29] (297 words)

Trade union finances [page 29] (192 words)

Trade union facilities [page 30] (536 words)

Blacklisting [page 31] (130 words)

Industrial action ballots and notice [page 32] (461 words)

Picket supervision [page 33] (283 words)

Protection against dismissal [page 33] (97 words)

Minimum service levels [page 34] (163 words)

Prison officers [page 34] (93 words)

Functions of the Certification Officer [page 34] (200 words)

Consultation [page 35] (158 words)

Chapter 5

5. Enforcement of labour market legislation [page 36] (584 words)

Most employment rights are enforced by individuals bringing a claim in an employment tribunal (or in Northern Ireland, an industrial tribunal or fair ...
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Need for reform [page 37] (394 words)

The Fair Work Agency [page 38] (609 words)

Time limits [page 40] (190 words)