By Anna Jordan on Small Business UK – Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs
UPDATED: The Labour government has added a new amendment to its upcoming Employment Rights Bill, with families who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks becoming entitled to bereavement leave from day one of employment.
The government also tabled amendments back in March with around 250 additions to the bill, which was announced back in October 2024.
The government has outlined that agency workers will need to be compensated if their shift is cancelled or changed at short notice (though ambiguity hangs around the term ‘short notice’). On top of that, employers will have to give agency workers new contracts outlining their fixed working hours per week.
Firing and rehiring practices and firing and replacing practices will be punished more harshly with a double penalty. Employers may also be forced to pay 180 days’ compensation rather than the current 90 days.
Day one rights for employees will progress further, with staff being entitled to parental leave, sick pay and protection from unfair dismissal from their first day. Plus, new mums will have protection from dismissal for their first six months after they return to work.
Probation is