Good morning, Everyone,

This week in the MMD podcast Sam explores philosophical beliefs under the Equality Act, while Nils covers what happens when you get caught speeding. Daniel sheds light on a new consultation regarding guaranteed hours for agency workers. In the news, we unpack key amendments to the Employment Rights Bill, including Day-One Rights, NDA restrictions, and extended tribunal time limits.

THE MMD PODCAST

Episode 47: Beliefs

In this week’s episode, Sam discusses what qualifies as a “philosophical belief” under the Equality Act and Nils talks us through what happens if you get caught speeding.

Listen to the episode:-

Here on Spotify: https:// bit.ly/3BaLoJR

Here on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3ZxuI8I

THE MEDIA HUB

Agency Workers and Guaranteed Hours

Government has launched a consultation on how the proposed right to guaranteed hours might apply to agency workers. We discuss who might bear responsibility for applying these rights, as well as commenting generally on the likelihood of a fundamental change in the nature of the agency relationship. 

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/LXjBBSasxr0

Day-One Rights, NDAs and Tribunal Time Limits: Amendments to the Employment Rights Bill

The House of Commons has published a 53-page paper of amendments to the Labour Government’s Employment Rights Bill. The proposed amendments include revisions to policy on NDAs, extending tribunal time limits and introducing an “initial period of employment” in lieu of a 2-year qualifying period from unfair dismissal.

These amendments build on the Government’s proposed ‘Employment Rights Bill’ was introduced go Parliament on 10^th October 2024. The headline policies included a day-one right to protection from unfair dismissal, increased rights for workers on zero-hour contracts and a proposed ban on ‘fire and rehire’ practices. The proposed amendments will be considered and then voted on by MPs in the committee stage.

The amendment to introduce an “initial period of employment” comes amidst concerns about the implementation of the proposed removal of the two-year qualifying period for unfair dismissal. Employers will be familiar with the “two-year rule”, which means that they are protected from unfair dismissal claims by employees with less than two years of service. However, the Employment Rights Bill proposed to remove this qualifying period and to make unfair dismissal a “day-one right”. Whilst appreciated by many employees, the practical implementation of this policy was queried by several groups of employers, employment lawyers and regulatory bodies, with the Regulatory Policy Committee warning that the government’s impact assessment on the Bill was ‘not fit for purpose’ earlier this week. As such, the amendment should provide some reassurance to employers about the practicalities of the Bill’s implementation.

Amongst these amendments was also the proposal that NDAS be rendered void should they prevent workers from making disclosures about harassment, proposed by Lib Dem MP Layla Moran, and extension of tribunal time limits from three to six months.

The House of Commons will now consider the Bill and its amendments, with the Government proposing that the majority of the reforms will come into effect no earlier than 2026.

Read the details of the Bill and the Amendment Paper: Employment Rights Bill publications – Parliamentary Bills – UK Parliament

UPCOMING EVENTS

Our seminars and events have finished for 2024. Keep an eye on our website for the release of our 2025 Seminar Programme coming soon!

https://www.chadwicklawrence.co.uk/seminars/business-services-seminars/

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS SESSIONS

Through our relationship with Tailored Learning Solutions who provide mental health first aid courses in our business, we are now able to announce that we are running multiple courses at our Wakefield office including the following:

• 23 and 24 April 2025
• 25 and 26 June 2025
• 24 and 25 September 2025

The details of these sessions can be found at the Tailored Learning Solutions website: https://www.tailoredlearningsolutions.co.uk/book-online?category=all-services

If you would like further information and details of the cost for these events, please email carolgledhill@chadlaw.co.uk