Page 24 - P4403.59-V57_Numark Pharmacy Magazine Nov 24 print

Important Employment Law

changes on the horizon and

what you need to do about it

With the change in government, several updates to employment laws are
expected soon. These changes will have a significant impact on pharmacies, so
it's important to stay informed and prepare your business.

The changes will be implemented through two key pieces of legislation: The Employment
Rights Bill 2024 and The Equality (Race and Disability) Bill 2024.
Although no date is set yet, the proposed bills could be introduced later this year and could
become law shortly after that although no firm date has yet been identified.

What are some of the key proposed changes?

Unfair dismissal rights Flexible working

Employees could gain protection from unfair Flexible working for employees could
dismissal from their first day of employment. become a default right from the first day
This right may be subject to a probation of employment, except where it is not
period. reasonably feasible to accommodate a
request.
Fire and rehire
Trade Union rights
There may be further restrictions on 'fire and
rehire' practices. Trade unions could gain new rights to with a
simpler process for union recognition.
Zero-hours contracts
Sick pay
Zero-hours contracts could be prohibited,
requiring contracts to reflect actual hours Statutory sick pay could be available from
worked. the first day of illness, with the lower earnings
limit removed.
Pay gap reporting
Parental leave
Businesses with at least 250 employees
could be required to report on ethnicity Parental leave could become a right from day
and disability pay gaps. For gender pay gap one of employment.
reports new rules may require mandatory
action plans and the inclusion of outsourced
workers.

24

28/10/2024 16:00:27
P4403.59-V57_Numark Pharmacy Magazine Nov 24 print.indd 24
P4403.59-V57_Numark Pharmacy Magazine Nov 24 print.indd 24 28/10/2024 16:00:27