Commentary and insights

All items: Contracts of employment

  • Employment Rights Bill published: 10 highlights for HR from the first draft

    Date:
    11 October 2024

    After months of waiting, the Government has finally published the first draft of its wide-ranging Employment Rights Bill, which will make radical changes to employment law in the next few years. Now that the Employment Rights Bill has begun its progress through Parliament, we highlight the key points from the first draft for HR professionals.

  • Employment Rights Bill: Eight things HR needs to know

    Date:
    18 July 2024

    During the state opening of Parliament, the Government trailed its Employment Rights Bill, which will make wide-ranging and radical changes to employment law in the coming years. In advance of the publication of the full text of the Employment Rights Bill, what do HR professionals need to know about what is in store for them?

  • General election 2024: What might a Labour Government mean for employers?

    Date:
    29 May 2024

    With a general election confirmed for 4 July 2024, senior legal editor Fiona Cuming looks at two key areas where Labour's employment law proposals, if implemented, would transform the face of employment law in the UK and have significant implications for employers.

  • New holiday pay provisions - regulations in need of reform

    Date:
    11 April 2024

    The Employment Rights (Amendment, Revocation and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2023 were intended to simplify the calculation of holiday pay and entitlement following the UK's departure from the EU. But they seem to have brought as much confusion as clarity. Darren Newman provides some guidance.

  • Changes to holiday entitlement and pay in 2024: What does HR need to know?

    Date:
    16 November 2023

    A number of changes to holiday entitlement and pay are due to come in next year, especially for workers with irregular hours and part-year workers. We look at what HR needs to know to be ready for the developments. 

  • Should we raise the minimum wage for workers on zero hours contracts?

    Date:
    8 November 2023

    The Workers (Predicable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023 has now received Royal Assent. But will it fix the problem of zero hours contracts and precarious work? Probably not, says XpertHR consultant editor Darren Newman, who casts an eye over Labour's plans for a "New Deal" and points to a forgotten proposal with the potential to make a real difference.

  • Should employers pay for restrictive covenants?

    Date:
    8 July 2022

    In some countries, clauses that restrict employees from working for a competitor or setting up their own business after they leave are not enforceable unless the ex-employee is paid. But would this work in the UK? Justin T Tarka, employment lawyer at Ogletree Deakins, looks at the pros and cons.

  • Employment law changes 2022: Mid-year progress report for HR

    Date:
    1 July 2022

    As we reach the midpoint of 2022, HR professionals would be forgiven for losing track of all the live employment law proposals and what they mean for their organisation. To assist HR with planning for the rest of the year and beyond, we round up the major employment law changes in the pipeline as of mid-2022.

  • P&O Ferries scandal: Will a statutory "fire and rehire" code prevent a repeat?

    Date:
    10 May 2022

    The Government has said that it intends to publish a new statutory code of practice on "fire and rehire". Consultant editor Darren Newman asks whether the code would be sufficient to clamp down on unscrupulous employers that want to impose new terms and conditions on staff through dismissal and reengagement.

  • COVID-related employment cases: 10 key lessons for employers

    Date:
    19 November 2021

    Employment tribunals have been deciding coronavirus-related cases throughout 2021. We set out 10 key first-instance rulings related to the pandemic and highlight what lessons employers can learn from them.

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Commentary and insights: HR and legal information and guidance relating to contracts of employment.