The UK government is planning to introduce a new bill that will provide greater rights to workers from the first day on the job. This bill aims to grant workers sick pay, maternity pay, and protection against unfair dismissal right from the beginning of their employment. The Trades Union Congress has expressed support for this initiative, stating that it will boost incomes and raise living standards across the country.
While the details of the bill have not been released yet, it is expected to include measures such as better support for new parents, day-one protection against unfair dismissal, and statutory sick pay from the first day of illness. However, a statutory “right to switch off” is likely to be abandoned after discussions with business leaders. Instead, companies will be encouraged to create guidelines on when managers can contact their staff.
Over 7 million workers are expected to benefit from this bill, gaining access to sick pay, maternity pay, and protection against unfair dismissal from day one. Currently, individuals are only entitled to sick pay after the fourth day of illness, with those earning less than £123 a week unable to claim. The TUC believes that every worker should receive either statutory sick pay or their average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.
Additionally, Labour is set to announce that women will be able to apply for maternity pay from their first day of work, rather than waiting six months. They will also receive increased protection against dismissal upon returning to work. Furthermore, more fathers are expected to gain rights to paternity pay.
As part of the overhaul of workers’ rights, probation periods are expected to be reduced to six months. However, employers may still be able to dismiss workers during probation without a full performance management process, as long as they provide a letter stating their reasons.
While the Department for Business and Trade has not confirmed the specifics of the bill, the government is aiming to introduce this legislation within the first 100 days of taking office. This move is seen as a significant step towards improving the quality of jobs in the UK and ensuring that workers are treated fairly from the start of their employment.