Government unveils significant reforms to employment rights

The Employment Right Bill will bring forward 28 individual employment reforms, from ending exploitative zero hours contracts and fire and rehire practices to establishing day one rights for paternity, parental and bereavement leave for millions of workers.

Statutory sick pay will also be strengthened, removing the lower earnings limit for all workers and cutting out the waiting period before sick pay kicks in. 

The major package of reforms includes granting workers protection from unfair dismissal from the first day of their employment, ending the existing two-year qualifying period.

The measure will be accompanied by a statutory probation period of up to nine months for new hires, during which staff can be dismissed under a "lighter touch" process.

That said, it is likely that the bill will not become law for at least two years, as the government seeks compromise between unions and businesses on measures intended to strengthen workers’ rights without hindering economic growth.

How will this affect you? Find out more here.