The new Employment Rights Bill: what it means for you

Last week, the UK government unveiled its landmark Employment Rights Bill, ushering in a new era of worker protections that will significantly reshape the landscape for small businesses across the country.

It's pretty transformative but let's be honest - change can be daunting, especially when it affects the very fabric of how we run our businesses. As I've pored over the details of this bill, I've found myself growing excited about the possibilities it presents for creating fairer, more productive workplaces. And I want to share that excitement with you. Here are my thoughts on a few of the items covered:

One-day unfair dismissal protection

The bill introduces day-one unfair dismissal protection, which means every new hire will have the right to claim unfair dismissal from the moment they start. For small businesses, this really underscores the importance of having clear, fair, and well-documented performance management and dismissal processes in place from the outset. This is our chance to build rock-solid foundations for our teams from the get-go. Imagine the loyalty and engagement we could foster if every employee knew they were valued and protected from day one.

Zero-contract hours

If you're like many of the small business owners we work with, you've probably relied on zero-hours contracts to manage the ebb and flow of demand. The new bill is shaking things up by requiring guaranteed hours based on typical work patterns. This could limit the flexibility that many small businesses but it also presents an opportunity to reassess workforce planning strategies and potentially uncover more efficient ways of managing your team's time and skills.

Sick pay and leave rights

Here's something close to my heart - the bill enhances sick pay and leave rights. It's making statutory sick pay available from day one and expanding parental and bereavement leave rights. It's extending protection from dismissal during pregnancy, maternity, adoption, or shared parental leave, and even for six months after returning to work. Yes, there might be some short-term costs to consider. But just imagine the impact on your team's wellbeing and loyalty. In my experience, when we take care of our people, they take care of our business. It's as simple as that.

Harassment protection

Here's something that's been on my mind lately - creating a truly safe and respectful workplace (see my recent article in HR Magazine on sexual assault in the NHS). The new bill is taking a strong stance against harassment, and I think it's a change we can all get behind. The bill is strengthening the duty to prevent sexual harassment, introducing whistleblower protection for those who report harassment, and even making us responsible for preventing harassment from third parties like clients or suppliers. This is our chance to create workplaces where everyone feels safe and valued. It's not just about avoiding legal troubles; it's about building the kind of business where people genuinely want to work.

Ok, I've thrown a lot at you; and I know these changes can seem overwhelming, especially for small businesses with limited HR resources.That's where our UK Resolution service comes in. We're here to be your outsourced team; to help you not just comply with these new regulations, but to leverage them as a catalyst for positive change in your organisation.

As your outsourced Resolution Centre, we can assist you in updating your policies and procedures, provide guidance on fair dismissal processes, help with workforce planning, and offer training on effective employee relations in this new landscape.

Let's work together to create a workplace that not only complies with these new regulations but thrives because of them!

👉 Learn more about UK Resolution

Congrats to our Customer of the Week!

I'm delighted to share the Local Government Authority (LGA) as our Customer of the Week this week.

They approached us wanting to 'push the needle forward' when it came to resolution in their workplace and have been fantastic partners in implementing some of the core aspects of The Resolution Framework in their organisation. We've been so impressed by their dedication to transforming their former policies in favour of more people-focused ones and congratulate them on all they've achieved so far!

Masterclass on early resolution and workplace justice

While we're on the subject of overhauling policies and procedures, later this month, I'll be hosting a masterclass on how to do just that by incorporating early resolution and transformative justice into your HR policy.

Traditional HR policies, rooted in retributive justice, often exacerbate workplace issues rather than resolve them. Grievances escalate into office meltdowns, minor disagreements spiral into relationship breakdowns, and simple errors become career-threatening incidents. It’s time for a change.

In this masterclass, I'll be joined by my colleagues and Ros Doyle and Alison Ford from the London Borough of Hounslow sharing their experience of implementing the ground-breaking Resolution Framework!

👉 Register your free space here

The enduring prevalence of racism in our major institutions makes sobering reading. It's never far from the headlines. Stats such as how a third of young people with minority ethnic backgrounds have experienced racist remarks, jokes or banter at work. And how over 70% of NHS staff surveyed have complained of race discrimination.

We all know that addressing racism in the workplace should be a top priority, so why are businesses still struggling to address it? Despite increasing awareness, stamping out discrimination requires more than just policies — it demands a shift in culture and action at every level.

In this article, I spoke to People Management magazine about why businesses are falling short and what can be done to create truly inclusive environments. Take a moment to read and reflect on the steps your organisation can take to combat racism. Remember: diversity is nothing without also fostering belonging. 

👉 Read the full story

In your words this week...

We love hearing from our clients how our training and coaching land with them. This lovely piece of feedback was from our recent National Certificate in Workplace Mediation training last week.

Let's chat in person!

This autumn is already shaping up to be a busy one for me sharing the work we do at TCM with the world both at conferences and customised training at organisations - most recently at the World Health Organisation last week where I delivered four leadership masterclasses 'How to Disagree Well.' This month you can find me at:

• Speaking at ACAS Digital Resolving Workplace Disputes Conference on 20th Nov
• Serving as the opening keynote of the fabulous Inclusive Workplace Conference on 20-21st Nov sharing my new People & Culture model alongside a host of incredible speakers
• And delivering a keynote speech at the UK Mediation Conference on 25th Nov

If you attend, please come up and say hello. And if you'd like to book me as a speaker for your organisation or event, just reach out!

The TCM Reading Corner

Jacob Morgan is a futurist and one of the world's leading authorities on the future of work, employee experience, and leadership and this book is like a crystal ball for the workplace.

He talks about the impact of emerging technologies like AI and robotics, changing workforce demographics, and evolving societal expectations on how we work. His discussion of new management models that focus on employee empowerment and flexible arrangements, especially aligns with many aspects of the new Employment Rights Bill. Definitely worth a read!

You can get the book here.

That's it for now. If you have any questions or queries relating to any of the content above, please feel free to contact me.

Have a great weekend!

David