The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill is a private member’s bill sponsored by Baroness Taylor of Bolton (Labour). The bill would amend the Employment Rights Act 1996 to make it easier for employees to request flexible working. It was first introduced in the House of Commons and received cross-party support. The bill passed all its stages in the House of Commons without being amended.
On 24 March 2023, the House of Lords is due to debate the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill at second reading. This private member’s bill would create new statutory entitlements to leave and pay for employees with responsibility for a baby receiving neonatal care.
The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill is a private member’s bill that has government support. The purpose of the bill is to amend the Equality Act 2010 to make employers liable for harassment of their employees by third parties (such as customers or clients) and to introduce a specific duty on employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent the sexual harassment of their employees.
Research Briefing
The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill is a private member’s bill that would mandate that employers must distribute the total amount of tips and service charges to workers without deductions.
Research Briefing
Before an employer can make an employee on maternity, adoption or shared parental leave redundant, redundancy protection regulations require an employer to give that employee first refusal on a suitable alternative vacancy where one exists. The Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Bill would give the secretary of state powers to introduce regulations that would enable redundancy protections to apply from the point an employee told their employer that they were pregnant, and six months after returning from maternity, adoption or shared parental leave.
Research Briefing
On 3 March 2023, the Carer’s Leave Bill is due to receive its second reading in the House of Lords. This private member’s bill would amend the Employment Rights Act 1996 to give the secretary of state the power to create, by regulations, a new entitlement to carer’s leave.
Research Briefing
The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill is a government bill that would allow ministers to make regulations setting out the minimum service required in certain areas of the public sector during strike action in England, Wales and Scotland.
Research Briefing
The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 6 February 2023. The bill would automatically revoke, or ‘sunset’, most retained EU law at the end of 2023. However it would also give ministers powers to exempt some retained EU law from the sunset and to restate, reproduce, replace or update retained EU law by statutory instrument.
Research Briefing
The Protection for Whistleblowing Bill [HL] would introduce several protections for whistleblowers, including the establishment of an independent Office of the Whistleblower. The bill would also create offences relating to the treatment of whistleblowers and the handling of whistleblowing cases. It would also repeal the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.
In Focus
The House of Lords Youth Unemployment Committee identified six main “longstanding drivers” of youth unemployment: skills gaps and shortages; access to careers advice; the further education system; availability of apprenticeships; support for disadvantaged groups; and coordination between government departments. The committee stated that the Covid-19 pandemic had made the situation worse, especially for those disadvantaged groups already facing additional barriers. This article summarises the findings and recommendations of the committee.
Research Briefing
The Health and Social Care Levy (Repeal) Bill would repeal the Health and Social Care Levy Act 2021 while maintaining a legislative basis for keeping tax receipts collected under provisions in that act until early November 2022. The House of Commons considered the bill at second reading and all remaining stages on 11 October 2022. The House of Lords is scheduled to similarly consider the bill on 17 October 2022.
In Focus
In recent years, concerns have been raised about the horticultural sector’s workforce, including its dependence on foreign seasonal workers and the existence of a skills gap. The sector’s role in protecting the environment has also been discussed. This article considers both these issues and the government’s response.
Research Briefing
This proposed law seeks to tighten the rules around the use of ‘fire and rehire’ practices by employers, including by providing affected workers with additional protections.
Current Affairs Digest
This Current Affairs Digest looks at articles on the Russian economy and currency following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the impact of the 'eat out to help out' scheme on Covid-19, and women in top jobs in the UK.
In Focus
Private equity takeovers play a significant role in the UK economy. Some have argued that businesses that have been bought by private equity funds have suffered, and that there have been negative impacts on employment and pension schemes. The tax treatment of some elements of private equity has also been criticised. This article provides an overview of private equity, its regulation, and evidence of its impacts.
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