• In Focus

    Freelancers in the arts and creative sectors

    The creative industries sector is a significant contributor to the UK economy and freelancers comprise a large proportion of its workforce. While many freelancers can benefit from the flexibility of self-employment, they can also lose entitlements to a range of workplace rights. Concerns have been raised about the impact on creative freelancers of the UK’s post-Covid recovery. Some organisations in the creative sector have called for the appointment of a freelancers’ commissioner to advocate for the rights of freelancers.

  • In Focus

    Assistive technology in education and employment

    Assistive technology can support individuals with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to improve or maintain their daily quality of life. This includes in the areas of education and employment. This article looks at the challenges those with SEND face in these areas as well as the potential solutions assistive technology can offer. It also considers the government’s policy in these areas.

  • In Focus

    Prison officers’ retirement age

    Newly recruited prison officers can draw their full occupational pension between the ages of 65 and 68, depending on their date of birth. The prison officers’ union argues such officers do a demanding physical job and regularly face violence, so requiring them to work until their late 60s is inappropriate and harmful. Ministers say they are open to discussions with the union but there are no plans to adjust prison officers’ retirement age.  

  • Research Briefing

    Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill: HL Bill 107 of 2022–23

    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.

  • Research Briefing

    Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill: HL Bill 101 of 2022-23

    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

    Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Bill: HL Bill 99 of 2022–23

    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

    Carer’s Leave Bill: HL Bill 100 of 2022-23

    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

    Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill: HL Bill 89 of 2022–23

    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

    Protection for Whistleblowing Bill [HL]: HL Bill 27 of 2022–23

    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

    Causes of youth unemployment: Lords committee report

    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.

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