The government has once again postponed the Employment Bill meaning day-one flexible working and changes to carer’s leave (along with a host of other proposals) will be further delayed.
The Employment Bill included the following proposals – all of which are now delayed indefinitely:
Flexible working – the right to request flexible working arrangements without any qualifying service (currently 26 weeks).
Carer’s leave – a new ‘day-one’ right for unpaid carers to take up to five working days of unpaid leave per year from their usual employment. Employers would not be entitled to deny a request for a carer’s leave, only postpone in specific circumstances.
Neonatal care leave – providing up to 12 weeks’ paid leave for parents of babies requiring neonatal care.
Pregnancy and maternity discrimination – extending redundancy protection from the point the employee notifies their employer of their pregnancy until six months after the end of their maternity leave.
Tips – all tips and services charges were to be passed onto workers in full on a fair and transparent basis.
Predictable working arrangements – a new right for all workers to request a more predictable and stable contract after 26 weeks’ service.
There’s nothing stopping you from implementing some of these ideas despite the government’s delay. In a challenging recruitment market, employee benefits setting you apart from competitors can only help to secure the best individuals.
