Prime Ministers Office 10 Downing Street
Were introducing new workplace rights to end unfair employment practices andhelpdeliver economicgrowth.
Our Employment RightsBill will ban exploitative zero-hours contracts, end fire and rehire, and introduce basic employmentrightsfromday one- likepaternity andparental leave,and protection from unfair dismissal.It also introduces right to bereavement leave from day one.
It will replace out-of-date employment laws,helping to boostpay and productivity with legislation fit for a modern economy.
This is the biggest upgrade to workers rights in a generation, and a significant step towards delivering this governments plan to make work pay.
Basic rights from day one
Were putting in place measures to give employees basic rights from their first day in a new job.
Our new Bill will give greater protection against unfair dismissal from day one, ensuring that the feeling of security at work is no longer a luxury for the privileged few.
Weare also bringing in anew statutory probation period for companies new hires. This will allow for a proper assessment of an employees suitability for a role as well as reassuring employees that they have rights from day one.We will consult on the length of the period; the governments preference is 9 months.
The Bill will establish rights to bereavement andpaternity andparental leave from day one, and strengthen statutory sick pay, removing the lower earnings limit for all workers and cutting out the waiting period before sick pay kicks in.
Our new Bill and measures will:
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Give protectionagainst unfair dismissal from dayone, while allowing employers to operate probation periods
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Establish parental and bereavement leave from day one
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End exploitativezero hourcontracts
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Endunscrupulous practicesoffire and rehireand fire and replace
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Make flexible working the norm where practical
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Deliver strongerdismissalprotections for pregnant women and new mothers
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Establish a newFair Work Agencywith new powers toenforce holiday pay
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Strengthen statutory sick pay
Ending unfair practices
Our new laws willend exploitative zero hours contracts andunscrupulous fire andrehire practices.
While workers can stay on zero hours contracts if theyd prefer to, our new Bill means theyll have the right to a guaranteed hours contract if they work regular hours over a defined period.
Ending unscrupulous employment practices is a priority for this government. And this Bill will shut down the loopholes that allow bullying fire and rehire and fire and replace to continue.
A fairer and more flexible workplace
As part ofthe Bill,well introduce new measures to help make the workplace more compatible with peoples lives. This includes making flexible working the default where practical.
Large employers will be required to create action addressing gender equality, including supporting employees through the menopause, and protections against dismissal will be strengthened for pregnant workers and those returning from maternity leave.
This is all with the intention of keeping people in jobs for longer, reducing recruitment costs for employers by increasing staff retention and helping the economy grow.
Well also establish a new Fair Work Agency bringing together existing enforcement bodies to enforce rights such as holiday pay, and support employers looking for guidance on h