Royal Assent for new Employment Rights Act welcomed by Acas & TUC

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) has welcomed the new Employment Rights Act, describing it as a significant opportunity for employers and staff to work together to help businesses thrive and improve working lives.

The Act, which received Royal Assent today (18 December), will update British employment law and includes the following changes:

• protection from unfair dismissal will become a right after 6 months of being in a job instead of two years
• new rules to limit “fire and rehire” practices
• the right to guaranteed hours for workers on zero hours contracts
• statutory sick pay will be paid from the first day of illness
• whistleblowing protection for disclosing sexual harassment at work
• proactive duty on employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment and obligations to prevent employees from 3^rdparty harassment
• paternity leave will become a day one right instead of needing to work for an employer for 26 weeks
• stronger protections against dismissal for pregnant workers and those returning from maternity leave
• new rules around trade unions’ right to access workplaces to meet and support workers, and simplified rules for trade unions to negotiate with employers over pay and conditions

Acas will play a crucial role in supporting the Act’s implementation, and is working with the Department for Business and Trade, as well as other partners to provide advice and help employers and employees prepare for the changes.

Niall Mackenzie, Acas Chief Executive, said: “This is a once-in-a-generation change to employment law in Britain and an opportunity for employers and workers to work together to bring all workplace relations up to the standard of current best practice, and help businesses thrive and improve working lives.

“Acas will be updating its training and advice as the new laws are implemented. We stand ready to help employers, workers and their trade unions work together to make the most of the opportunity presented by these reforms to build better, healthier and more productive workplaces.”

Also commenting on the Employment Rights Act becoming law, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:“This is a landmark day for millions of workers.

“The Employment Rights Act represents the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation.

“It will deliver common sense changes like banning exploitative zero hours contracts, protecting workers from harassment and sick pay for all – and so much more. These are hard-won rights that the union movement and workers have long campaigned for.

“For too long, we have lagged behind our European counterparts on workers’ rights. This legislation takes us closer to the mainstream.

“We are finally closing the door on the broken status quo defined by insecurity, poor pay and weak rights.

“It’s now vital the government finishes the job – ensuring workers feel the benefits of all these new protections as soon as possible. That means watertight secondary legislation, which delivers new rights fully and quickly.”