We round up the latest employment news.
Increase in COVID infections in wake of new variants
The number of people with COVID-19 in the UK is rising and new variants are emerging – including one which is causing significant community transmission. The government is bringing forward boosters for high risk groups (including those aged over 65) and frontline health workers. Its plans are underway to restart surveillance.
There are no COVID restrictions in place, but government guidance advises people who have tested positive to stay at home. The same advice applies to those people with symptoms who haven’t taken a test. It recommends that both groups “avoid close contact with [anyone] who is at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell if they are infected with COVID-19 and other respiratory infections, especially those whose immune system means that they are at higher risk of serious illness, despite vaccination”.
Acas updates its COVID-19 guidance for employers
The revised guidance on coronavirus and work now covers:
- What to do if an employee gets COVID-19
- Self-isolation for COVID-19
- Keeping everyone safe at work
Acas has also reviewed its guidance for employees and employers on Long-COVID, including sickness absence because of Long-COVID, and whether Long-COVID is treated as a disability.
Previous guidance on getting the COVID vaccine, workplace testing for COVID and what to do if staff are worried about going to the workplace has been removed.
Government publishes technical consultation on single-sex toilets
The government has published a technical consultation seeking views on proposals for the building regulations relating to the provision of toilets for men and women. The proposed changes will mean all new non-domestic public and private buildings, with some exceptions including schools, will have to provide separate single-sex toilets for women and men and/or a self-contained, private toilet as a minimum.
Union challenges government over new strike laws
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has announced that it’s reporting the government to the International Labour Organization (ILO) over the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023. The TUC has stated that the legislation falls far below international legal standards and may breach the UK-EU trade agreement.
The ILO has already warned the government that existing and prospective legislation should be in line with ILO standards.
New right for casual staff to request predicable hours coming soon
A law giving temporary and agency workers the right to request more predictable hours has received Royal Assent. When enacted, the Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023, will give people in atypical work, such as zero-hours or temporary contracts, the right to request a more predictable working pattern.
Employers will be able to turn down requests on similar grounds to those that apply to the flexible working regime.
Union launches artificial intelligence taskforce to protect worker rights
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has launched a new AI taskforce to consider what needs to be done to safeguard workers’ rights. It believes that the UK risks becoming an “international outlier” on the regulation of AI, given that the EU and other countries have already drafted specific legislation to properly regulate AI at work.
The taskforce will consist of leading specialists in law, technology, politics, HR, and the voluntary sector and will consider what additional laws the UK needs to fill around AI regulation at work. It aims to publish an expert-drafted AI and Employment Bill in the early part of 2024.
CIPD publishes manifesto for good work
The CIPD has unveiled a manifesto for good work, which calls on the next UK government to develop a long-term workforce strategy. It argues that the UK needs a joined up workforce strategy covering three themes – skilled work, healthy work, and fair work – in order to tackle stagnating productivity, rising skills shortages, an ageing working population and the UK’s transition to net zero.
Read more – September 2023
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