Amendments made to the Employment Rights Bill made by the House of Lords has been welcomed by Cumbria Chamber of Commerce.
The bill will see a major overhaul of the UK’s employment laws.
The bill failed to make its final hurdle to be passed into law in the House of Lords, which has passed it back to the House of Commons for further debate over disputed points.
The key Lords amendment were:
- A six-month qualification period for unfair dismissal rather than from day one. This will mean no threat of employment tribunals if employers have genuine reasons to dismiss someone in those initial six months for reasons such as underperformance or failure to pass a probationary period.
- Reducing the burden on businesses by removing the need to repeatedly offer guaranteed hours contracts to those who would prefer the flexibility of zero hours.
- Including a definition of seasonal work, so that this is reflected when employers have to determine regular hours.
- Retaining a turnout threshold of 50% for industrial action ballots to be valid, so action is representative of the wishes of the membership as a whole.
Suzanne Caldwell, managing director of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, said: “The Employment Rights Bill is a significant concern for businesses.
“While most are keen to be good employers, the bill poses significant issues, particularly at a time when businesses are being encouraged to take on more people with challenges and less used to the world of work.
“We’re fast reaching the end of the road for crucial changes, that businesses desperately want to see, to be made to the Employment Rights Bill.
“There are some elements of the Government’s proposals which place unnecessary burdens on businesses and are likely to stifle recruitment, productivity and investment.
“Several of the amendments to the bill, agreed by the Lords this week, represent critical interventions that will reduce the risk of unintended consequences for businesses from this legislation.
“The government now has an opportunity to address businesses’ key concerns and demonstrate that they are willing to listen and recognise where changes are needed by accepting these amendments.”
