We round up the latest employment news.
New Prime Minister hints that she wants to reduce employment protections
The government, formed by the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, is reported to be considering a review of workers’ rights as part of a wider “bonfire” of EU laws it wants to remove from the UK’s statute books before the end of 2023.
The Times reported that government would review the Working Time Regulations and make the changes it needed “to make the UK more competitive,” including getting rid of the restrictions on working longer than 48 hours a week.
Progress of new Carer’s Bill
A Private Member’s Bill introducing the right for carers to take unpaid leave to provide or arrange care for a dependant with a long-term care need has got through its first reading in parliament and is due to have its second reading this month.
We don’t know if the government will support the Bill. The 2017 and 2019 Conservative general election manifestos both included commitments to introduce leave for carers. In 2020, there was a Government consultation on “proposals to give employees a week of unpaid leave each year to provide care.” The response to the consultation found strong support for the idea and concluded that “legislation to introduce carer’s leave as a day 1 statutory employment right will be brought forward when parliamentary time allows.”
A previous Private Members Bill launched in 2021 failed before its second reading.
The House of Commons Library has published a briefing paper which sets out the background, content, and commentary on the Carer’s Leave Bill 2022–23.
Equality and Human Rights Commission raises concerns about discrimination in the use of Artificial Intelligence
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has announced that it will take action to address discrimination in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by public bodies. This follows new evidence which suggests that algorithms embed bias.
It has also published new guidance for organisations to help them avoid breaches of equality law, which includes practical examples on how AI systems may be causing discrimination.
You may also find our article useful. Computer says no – unpicking the employment risks of AI, which analyses the legal implications of using AI to make significant decisions about your staff.
New report indicates that nearly half of BME workers experience racism at work
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has published a report which found that:
- 41% of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) workers have experienced racism in the workplace
- 81% of those who have faced racist behaviour don’t report it due to worries about not being taken seriously or facing negative consequences.
There are around 3.9 million BME employees in the UK, and the TUC has expressed concern that hundreds of thousands of people are at risk of racist treatment, ranging from so-called “banter” and jokes to bullying and harassment. The TUC has called on the government to work with trade unions and employers to ensure that employers take action to prevent workplace racism, to improve workers’ rights, to ensure “swift and effective” penalties for the wrongdoers, and to introduce mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting.
New consultation on public sector exit payments
In 2020, the government introduced legislation which imposed a £95,000 cap on the amount public sector bodies could pay to an employee when their employment ends. However it led to, what the Treasury referred to as, “unintended consequences” and the legislation was revoked a few months later.
The government is still keen to restrict these payments and has launched a further consultation. It intends to introduce a new requirement for some exit payments to be approved by Secretaries of State.
The consultation ends on Monday 17 October 2022.
Department for Work and Pensions launches Local Supported Employment initiative for adults with learning disabilities and autism
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has launched a new government initiative designed to help 2,000 adults with learning disabilities and autism get into work. It has pledged £7.6 million to the Local Supported Employment (LSE) initiative, which will be used over the next three years. The grant will support 24 local authorities across England and Wales and is expected to help between 60 and 140 adults with learning disabilities and/or autism to enter and stay in the workforce.
Read more - September 2022
For general enquiries
0808 291 3524
Or we can call you back at a time of your choice
Phone lines are open 24/7, 365 days a year
