We set out the key takeaways for employers from this year's Queen's speech

There were relatively few items mentioned in this year's Queen's speech of specific relevance to employers. We consider the key takeaways and impacts of this below.

No Employment Bill

In the Queen's Speech delivered in December 2019 the then recently elected Conservative government led by Boris Johnson announced it would introduce a new Employment Bill designed to bring together a number of changes to UK employment law. Among the proposed issues the Bill was expected to address were:

• The creation of a single enforcement body designed to make enforcing employment rights easier (as opposed to the current multi-departmental approach via HMRC, the HSE, Local Authorities, etc.)
• The right to request more predictable working hours
• Making flexible working the default
• Giving unpaid carers the right to a week's leave
• Introducing leave for neonatal care
• Extending redundancy protection for employees absent due to maternity or pregnancy
• To ensure tips go to workers in full

A lot has happened since the Employment Bill. In March 2021 the Government confirmed the Bill would not be brought forward during that Parliament and that it would be introduced 'when Parliamentary time allows'. Into 2022, there was an expectation that, with the country now moving past the coronavirus pandemic, the Employment Bill may make a reappearance in this year's Queen Speech, but it has not. It is therefore not clear if the Bill is on...

Read Full Story: https://www.mondaq.com/uk/redundancylayoff/1193314/queen39s-speech-and-employ...