At the time of writing, it is not clear exactly when the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) will become law. This is due to ongoing parliamentary 'ping-pong' between the House of Commons and the House of Lords over certain provisions of the ERB.
Earlier this week the House of Lords voted but still did not agree with the House of Commons, on several key sections of the ERB. These included continuing to insist on unfair dismissal rights being acquired after six-months service, rather than on 'day one', an opt out to receiving guaranteed hours offers, and to have regard to seasonal work requirements, resisting the removal of the requirement of a turnout of at least 50% for ballots on industrial action and disagreeing with the proposal that there is an automatic opt-in to a trade union's political fund for its members. These issues will now return to the House of Commons, but the longer the issues in dispute take to resolve, the more likely it is that the ERB's proposed implementation timings will be adversely affected.
However, last month the Government launched four consultations on measures being introduced under the Employment Rights Bill (ERB). Views are being sought from businesses, workers, trade unions and other interested parties on how the ERB reforms will work in practice. These are in relation to bereavement leave including pregnancy loss, enhanced protection from dismissal for pregnant women and new mothers; and on the right of trade unions to access workplaces and the...
Former Special Counsel Jack Smith delivered testimony Thursday before the House Judiciary Committee, defending his investigation into former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 el...