Labours Next Steps
Labours Next Steps Document Details What Changes Can We Expect To See Longer Term
Labour launched their Employment Rights Bill on Thursday 10 October 2024 which including much of the changes described in the Labour party manifesto. A small number of the changes announced in their 2024 General Election Manifesto were not included in the Employment Rights Bill and have instead been included in their Next Steps document. These are changes which will require significant consultation and will therefore be implemented at a later date.
Labours Next Steps
| Carers Leave |
| Proposed Change | Current Position |
| Enhance carer’s leave to become a paid entitlement and increase the amount of leave that can be taken. Tell me more … |
Carers Leave is currently unpaid and limited to five days in a 12 month period. Leave is also per employee not per dependant with caring needs. |
| Employment Status |
| Proposed Change | Current Position |
| A single status of worker will be created for everyone except the self-employed. Everyone within the single status will be entitled to the same benefits.
A consultation will also be undertaken to determine how a simpler framework to differentiate between workers and self-employed. |
There are currently three categories of worker: ‘worker’, ’employee’ and ‘self-employed’.
The proposal will remove the distinction between the existing worker and employee categories leaving two employment statuses of worker and self-employed. |
| Right to Switch Off |
| Proposed Change | Current Position |
| Introduce a right for workers to switch off which would include a right to not routinely work outside normal working hours and not to be contacted outside normal working hours. Tell me more … |
In the UK, workers are already protected by various means including limits to working time, the requirement to provide breaks, right to respect for private and family life and an employer’s duty of care to look after their employees’ health and safety. However, there is currently no right to disconnect. |
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