We round up the latest employment news.
Roadmap delayed: government asks employees to work from home if they can for another four weeks
The Prime Minister announced that 'step 4' of his government's roadmap out of lockdown would be delayed by four weeks. This was because of concerns about the spread of the Delta variant and the need to vaccinate more groups of adults.
Government advice which tells people to 'work from home if you can' is likely to apply until Monday 19 July at the earliest. The government’s said that it’ll review the position again on or before 5 July but we don't expect them to move the date forwards.
The government has updated its guidance to reflect the new date. It says that 'employers should take every possible step to facilitate their employees working from home, including providing suitable IT and equipment to enable remote working'.
If your organisation has planned to start to re-introduce staff back to the office either on a full or hybrid arrangement from Monday 21 June, you’ll need to postpone your plans.
If your staff can't work from home, you must continue to take steps to make your workplaces COVID-19 secure and help employees avoid busy times and routes on public transport. The guidance also encourages you to continue to consider those people at 'higher risk' such as those who were previously required to shield. We explained the options open to you here.
Chancellor refuses to extend furlough
The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has said that he won’t extend the furlough scheme beyond 30 September 2021 despite the delay to the lifting of the remaining lockdown sanctions.
UK businesses are urging employees to get vaccines
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has reported that a number of larger employers including Santander, Asda and IKEA have pledged to encourage and facilitate staff receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. They’re publicising positive messages about the vaccines and allowing workers flexibility in their hours to help them to make their appointments.
DHSC wants more organisations to follow suit.
Acas releases findings of its fire and rehire practices exercise
The Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) has issued a statement on the issue of, so called, ‘fire and rehire’ practices.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) asked Acas to carry out an evidence gathering exercise. This was to learn more about the use of these to push through changes to terms and conditions of employment. Acas took evidence from a wide range of organisations.
It’ll now produce further guidance that ‘encourages good workplace practices when negotiating changes to staff contracts’.
Government will introduce a single labour market enforcement body
BEIS has confirmed that despite delays, it’ll introduce a new single labour market enforcement body. To do so, it’ll need to introduce primary legislation.
The new body will:
- Combine the existing Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate and HMRC’s National Minimum Wage Enforcement
- Introduce a single regulatory body for tackling modern slavery, national minimum wage breaches and ensuring vulnerable workers get the statutory holiday and SSP to which they’re entitled
- Aim to improve enforcement and ensure both employees and businesses know where to go for help on workers’ rights and provide guidance on best practice
- Take action against businesses that turn a blind eye to abuses in their supply chains.
In the meantime, the government’s response outlines how BEIS will continue to work with stakeholders and enforcement bodies to trial new approaches in support of the transition.
New bill on employment status
This Private Members’ Bill, sponsored by the Labour peer, Lord Hendy, seeks to create a single status for workers. It’ll do so by amending the meaning of ‘employee’, ‘worker’ and related expressions in the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, the Employment Rights Act 1996 and other legislation.
The first reading took place on 26 May 2021 in the House of Lords.
Most Private Member’s Bill aren’t adopted unless they have the support of government.
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