Employment Archives

Research Briefing

Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill: HL Bill 126 of 2022–23

Monday, 12 June, 2023

The Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Bill is a private member’s bill sponsored by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Labour). The bill would give workers who have a lack of predictability regarding their working patterns, such as workers on zero hours contracts, a legal right to request a change in their terms and conditions. It was first introduced in the House of Commons and received cross-party support.
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- Employment
In Focus

Freelancers in the arts and creative sectors

Friday, 09 June, 2023

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

Friday, 19 May, 2023

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.
Current Affairs Digest

Current Affairs Digest: Social Policy (May 2023)

Monday, 15 May, 2023

In the spring budget in March 2023, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt announced reforms to disability benefits which he described as the “biggest change to our welfare system in a decade”. This article summarises the reforms, which were also published in a white paper, and reaction to them by disability groups and charities.
Current Affairs Digest

Current Affairs Digest: Economics (May 2023)

Wednesday, 10 May, 2023

One of the largest and most comprehensive trials for a four-day working week recently took place in the UK. This article considers the arguments around a four-day week in the context of the trial results.
In Focus

Prison officers’ retirement age

Wednesday, 22 March, 2023

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

Wednesday, 15 March, 2023

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
- Employment
Research Briefing

Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill: HL Bill 90 of 2022–23

Tuesday, 14 March, 2023

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.
Research Briefing

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

Monday, 13 March, 2023

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

Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill: HL Bill 91 of 2022–23

Tuesday, 21 February, 2023

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
- Employment
Research Briefing

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

Monday, 20 February, 2023

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

Thursday, 16 February, 2023

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
- Employment
Research Briefing

Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill: HL Bill 97 of 2022-23

Monday, 13 February, 2023

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
- Employment
Research Briefing

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

Friday, 27 January, 2023

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

Monday, 21 November, 2022

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.

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