Employment Rights Bill update – Royal Assent delayed until October
With Parliament in recess for party conference season, employers will need to wait a little longer for certainty on the Employment Rights Bill.
Where things stand
Parliament has adjourned for the annual party conferences, with the Commons returning on 13 October and the Lords on 7 October. This means the Employment Rights Bill will not receive Royal Assent in September. Mid to late October is now the realistic timeframe.
The Bill, debated in the Commons last week, has returned to the Lords. It must still be agreed between both Houses, but under the Salisbury convention the Lords will ultimately give way to the Commons. The Bill is therefore very close to completion, but not yet on the statute book.
Next steps
Attention is now turning to implementation. Government consultations are expected this autumn on key areas such as day one unfair dismissal rights, fire and re-hire, and the zero hours provisions. Consultations are expected after Royal Assent, when government has the certainty to press on with implementation. The question will be whether timetables set before the recent reshuffle remain unchanged.
Learning points
Employers should expect further clarity in the coming weeks and may wish to respond to consultation exercises once they are launched. Our Employment Rights Bill Hub provides a one-stop shop for the latest developments, including our tracker, detailed articles, podcasts and more.
For more information or advice, please contact Jessica Scott-Dye in our Employment team.