Topics

Collective employee relations

Laura Merrylees Editor's message: On 10 October 2024, the Government published the Employment Rights Bill, which will introduce extensive changes to collective rights and trade union legislation. The reforms will take place over time during 2025 and 2026 and, for some changes, through a process of consultation. For employers, it will mean that establishing good relations with trade unions and employee representatives has never been more important and can reap numerous benefits for your organisation. A good relationship will help when it comes to consulting in connection with key business changes, such as large-scale redundancies and TUPE transfers. Having an effective and productive relationship with your representatives can help consultations to run smoothly and avoid the risk of multiple employment tribunal claims.

Beyond any legal requirement to consult, establishing a culture where collective employee relations is fundamental to the way in which your organisation engages with its workforce can help to engender trust and transparency. Where there is the potential for conflict, good employee relations can provide a mechanism for resolution and open channels of communication. Conversely, where collective employee relations have broken down, organisations are exposed to the risk of industrial action, business disruption and a loss of productivity.

Laura Merrylees, senior employment law editor

New and updated

  • Date:
    21 November 2024
    Type:
    Podcasts and webinars

    Podcast: What changes should HR prepare for from the Employment Rights Bill?

    The Labour Government published its highly anticipated Employment Rights Bill on 10 October 2024. In this edition of the podcast, Brightmine employment law experts Zeba Sayed and Stephen Simpson analyse the key proposals in the Bill and offer advice on how HR can begin to prepare for the changes.

  • Date:
    20 November 2024
    Type:
    Podcasts and webinars

    Podcast: Employment Rights Bill Q&A

    The Labour Government published its highly anticipated Employment Rights Bill on 10 October 2024. In this edition of the podcast, Brightmine employment law experts Zeba Sayed and Stephen Simpson answer questions on different aspects of the Bill, from the timeline for the measures coming into effect to the nuances of the proposed unfair dismissal and fire and rehire changes.

  • Type:
    Economic data

    Labour disputes

    Updated to include official statistics from the ONS for September 2024 on days lost to labour disputes and the number of stoppages. The next ONS release date is 17 December 2024. 

  • Type:
    Employment law cases

    Cases on appeal

    Updated to reflect that the Court of Appeal allowed the appeal in ADP RPO v De Bank Haycocks on 29 October 2024.  

  • Date:
    24 October 2024
    Type:
    Podcasts and webinars

    Webinar: Employment Rights Bill - how HR can get ahead of the changes

    In this webinar, Brightmine legal editors Stephen Simpson and Zeba Sayed explain what the changes are going to be, what employers can do now to begin preparing and the potential timelines for implementation.

  • Date:
    24 October 2024
    Type:
    News

    Consultation: a new framework for industrial relations

    With the new government rolling back key sections of the 1992 and 2016 Trade Union acts, some employers may be nervous about a potential power shift towards employees. But, finds Adam McCulloch, the newly launched consultation on the proposals puts the focus more on modernisation and streamlining processes than on absolute rights.

  • Type:
    Employment law guide

    Informing and consulting prior to TUPE transfers

    Updated to reflect proposed reforms to the threshold for collective consultation under the Employment Rights Bill and the Government's intention to launch a call for evidence to examine issues relating to TUPE regulations.

  • Type:
    Legal timetable

    Fair Pay Agreement in adult social care sector

    The Employment Rights Bill includes provisions to introduce a framework for a Fair Pay Agreement process in the adult social care sector.

  • Type:
    Legal timetable

    Re-establishment of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body

    The Employment Rights Bill includes provisions to re-establish a negotiating body for school support staff.

  • Type:
    Employment law guide

    Trade union recognition

    Updated to reflect the launch of a Government consultation on the reform of trade union legislation, which was published on 21 October 2024.