HR & LEGAL SERVICES FOR YOUR BUSINESS 11 March 2025 | AshtonsLegal.co.uk
All the latest Employment & HR news for your business
Employment Rights Bill – Amendments Tabled
The Employment Rights Bill is to be a major piece of employment legislation, all part of Labour’s commitment to “Make Work Pay”. It was published in October 2024.
The Government has tabled a number of amendments to the Employment Rights Bill following various consultations that were launched last October. These amendments are to be considered at the House of Commons report stage as the Bill makes its way through the various stages.
- amendments to set out the framework for agency workers regarding zero hours contracts. The obligation to offer guaranteed hours for qualifying workers will sit with the end user (save for certain circumstances), though both the end user and agency will be responsible for providing an agency worker with reasonable notice of shifts, changes and cancellations.
- an increase in the maximum period of the protective award for failing to adhere to collective consultation requirements from 90 to 180 days – this is a very significant change and is intended to strengthen the collective redundancy framework.
- reinstating the “one establishment” concept for collective redundancy purposes.
- a number of amendments concerning trade unions and industrial relations, including simplifying the current information requirements for industrial action ballots and notices and extending the expiry of a trade union’s mandate for industrial action from six to 12 months.
- confirming that in relation to statutory sick pay, whilst this will apply to all workers by removing the lower earnings limit, there will be a provision for workers to earn either 80% of their average weekly earnings or the current rate of SSP, whichever is lower.
We will continue to keep you updated on the Bill as it progresses
Spring HR & Employment Law Breakfasts
Welcome to our latest round of face-to-face Employment Law Breakfasts.
As Diversity, Equality and Inclusion schemes and policies come under attack in the USA, we will look at the prominence and future of DEIB in the UK.
We will also be looking at other general updates for employers to be aware of, such as the introduction of Neonatal leave and pay and the update to right-to-work checks. Plus, we shall run through some recent cases in our case law update.
Ashtons Employment Law free breakfasts are perfect for networking and learning about the latest Employment Law updates.
As usual, we shall be running these events across the region, and you are welcome to attend whichever is most geographically convenient:
New right to Neonatal Care Leave and Pay
The Government has confirmed a day one right to Neonatal Care Leave will be introduced from 6 April this year.
Neonatal Care Leave will apply to parents of babies who are admitted into neonatal care up to 28 days old and who have a continuous stay in the hospital of seven full days or longer. Eligible parents will be allowed to take up to 12 weeks of leave on top of any other leave they may be entitled to, including maternity and paternity leave.
Statutory Neonatal Care Pay will be available alongside the leave entitlement for those who meet continuity of service requirements and a minimum earnings threshold.
Have you taken steps to comply with the new Sexual Harassment Prevention Duty?
A straw poll of delegates at a recent webinar hosted by Ashtons revealed that only 49% had taken steps so far to ensure they were complying with the new Sexual Harassment Prevention Duty, which came into force in October. Those businesses that have not yet done so should be considering this as a matter of urgency.
The new legislation puts the onus on employers to take preventive steps to try to ensure employees are not sexually harassed either by other employees or by external third parties. It is important to remember that this not only applies to incidents that occur on your premises but can include a much wider range of circumstances.
The employment guidance for business portal
We have an easily accessible Ashtons Legal Online HR Portal for businesses, which contains over 100 HR documents, templates and draft letters, covering over 14 topics such as contracts and offer letters, disciplinary issues, flexible working, performance management, family leave, sickness absence, recruitment, termination of employment and redundancy.
If you would like unlimited one-year access to this portal, we charge £325 plus VAT.
Please get in touch by emailing us on enquiries@ashtonslegal.co.uk.
Five top tips when preparing company directors Service Agreements
Ashtons Head of Employment Law, Ross Strowger, gives his five top tips when preparing company directors’ Service Agreements.
- Tip 1: Know your director (and your company!)
- Tip 2: Raise awareness – Companies Act 2006
- Tip 3: Look after the family silver – business protection and confidential information
- Tip 4: Indemnity protection – directors and officers (D&O) insurance
- Tip 5: Prepare for the end at the beginning; notice and termination provisions
Practical support for Owner-Managed & Family Businesses
Owner-managed businesses and family businesses can vary from new ventures to evolved, well-established companies operating across borders and family generations.
Such businesses can encounter a multitude of legal issues but often don’t have the bandwidth to separate things out or to align the present need with the long-term direction – they need practical, well-rounded advice to draw attention to the key matters and keep them moving forward.
Our multi-disciplinary team recognises the challenges that are presented to committed business owners and will help you overcome them by understanding your values and vision, helping you to reach your desired outcomes.
Our online training courses
These interactive courses are jointly run by Ashtons Legal and Ashtons HR Consulting in person or on Microsoft Teams.
- 12 March - Menopause and the Workplace: Manager Guidance
- 24 April - Navigating Difficult Conversations: Disciplinaries and Grievances
- 15 May - How to Carry Out Redundancy and Restructuring Consultations
- 26 June - Supporting Neurodiversity and Mental Wellbeing in the Workplace
- 25 September - Essential Employment Law for Managers
- 16 October - Empowering Employee Representatives: A Practical Guide
- 20 November - Appraisals and Performance Management
All the info you need to know is on our Eventbrite, where you can book your place!
Please remember that Ashtons Legal is available to assist you and your business with their full range of business, individual and injury law services including commercial and residential property, corporate advice, dispute resolution, family law, estate planning, personal injury and medical negligence.
We Can Help You
For specific advice for your business, please get in touch with our specialist Employment Law team on enquiry@ashtonslegal.co.uk or by calling 0330 404 0778.
The consultants at Ashtons HR Consulting are able to assist you with specialised advice from experienced HR Consultants. You can contact them by calling 0333 222 0989 or by emailing enquiry@ashtonhrconsulting.co.uk.
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