Legislation to introduce extensive employment rights

Sweeping new employees’ rights are to be introduced under landmark government legislation.
The Employment Rights Bill will give workers the right to protection from unfair dismissal, and the right to request flexible working, from their first day at a new job. It also aims to end unscrupulous “fire and rehire” and “fire and replace” practices; it will consider dismissal for failing to agree to a contract change as automatically unfair, except where businesses “genuinely have no alternative”.
The bill introduces rights to guaranteed hours, new protections from dismissal for pregnant women and new mothers, and an obligation for employers to draw up menopause action plans.
It details employers’ duty to prevent sexual harassment of staff by requiring employers “to take all reasonable preventative steps”. They will also be obliged to anticipate where third-party harassment of employees may occur, and introduce action plans to tackle the issue. 
In addition, a new enforcement body called the Fair Work Agency will act as a single point for whistleblowers, inspections and fine issuance.
The bill is expected to take up to two years to implement, following consultations. 
The government also plans to publish a document detailing around 30 more proposals, including guidance on a ‘right to switch off’ to stop employees being contacted out of hours, reviews of the parental and carers’ leave systems, and legislation to end pay discrimination, which is expected to form a separate draft bill.