Now that the Conservatives have won the election I have attempted to show below their commitments in their manifesto around the area of employment. It is a lot less than if Labour had won but nevertheless you should be aware of what they have promised and be in a position to take steps to see how it will affect your business.
Employment rights in general
Create a single enforcement body to police abuses of employment laws.
Extend the entitlement to leave for unpaid carers to 1 week.
Employment status
Give workers the right to request a more predictable contract.
Independent contractors
Review how the self-employed can be better supported, for example by improving their access to finance and credit, making the tax system easier to navigate and improving broadband.
Review whether the reforms to the IR35 regime in the private sector are the right way forward.
Equality and diversity
Publish a National Strategy for Disabled People before the end of 2020 which will look at ways to improve job opportunities and access for disabled people.
Reduce the disability employment gap.
Action to protect people from assault or harassment on grounds of sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or disability.
Working mothers
Reform redundancy law so that employers cannot discriminate against women when they return from maternity leave.
Working fathers
Promise to look at ways to made it easier for fathers to take paternity leave.
Other family-friendly
New right for parents to take extended leave for neo-natal care.
Promise to help create higher quality, affordable wrap around and school holiday childcare.
Flexible working
Encourage flexible working and consult on making it the default position unless the employer has a good reason.
Pay
Increase the National Living Wage to 2/3rds of average earnings and extend it to those aged 21 and over (current age limit is 25).
Working hours
No proposals.
Corporate governance
Improve incentives to tackle the problem of excessive executive pay and rewards for failure.
Please contact me on www.ukemploymentlawadvice.co.uk/contact for help in this area
Michael Newman
NewmanHR is a personalised employment law and human resources consultancy providing a bespoke service designed for small and medium sized businesses.
