From as soon as 1 January 2024, the UK Government is implementing a wide range of new employment law that will affect organizations with UK operations. Below is a handy table summarizing key changes and start dates.
Some critical issues for employers include: (i) stronger workplace protections against sexual harassment; (ii) increased employee flexible working rights; (iii) new holiday pay rules; (iv) new employee rights to request predictable working terms; (v) rights for agency workers to request jobs at client companies; and (vi) changes to TUPE.
Employers will need to review policies and procedures, and potentially employment and/or worker contracts, to assess what changes are required to comply with the new laws. New or enhanced processes may need to be put in place to manage risk. Insurance coverage may need to be strengthened. In particular, for companies who hire significant numbers of agency workers, the relationship with work agencies and their workers should be reviewed, and any current terms used reconsidered, in light of 4 above.
