The government has just published proposals to change employment laws in its document named ‘The Good Work Plan’.
The key proposals are as follows:
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A requirement that employers give employees a written statement of terms and conditions on the first day of work. Currently they must do so within two months.
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Extending the right to a written statement of terms and conditions to workers as well as employees.
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A ban on employers making deductions from staff tips.
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A change to the rules on continuity of employment, so that a break of up to four weeks between contracts will not interrupt continuity. Currently a one week break interrupts continuity.
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Introduced laws to allow all employees and workers with varying hours and shift patterns (including agency and zero hours workers) to formally request a more fixed working pattern after working for the same employer for 26 weeks.
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Abolishing the Swedish Derogation, which gives employers the ability to pay agency workers less than their own workers in certain circumstances.
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Introduce laws to streamline the employment status tests so they are the same for employment and tax purposes, and to avoid employers misclassifying employees/workers as self-employed.
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Increasing the penalty for employer’s aggravating conduct from £5,000 to £20,000.
Let’s see what happens in the New Year.