Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

C-store body raises concern on 'unnecessary processes' in Employment Rights Bill

C-store body raises concern on 'unnecessary processes' in Employment Rights Bill
iStock image

The Government has published the new Employment Rights Bill, outlining 28 individual employment reforms as part of its manifesto commitment to ‘Make Work Pay’.

The reforms are aimed at improving the rights of workers from their first day in employment and the government has stated it is aiming to promote two-sided flexibility that does not disproportionately favour the employer.


Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said, “The convenience sector employs almost half a million people across the UK, already providing genuine two-sided flexibility and secure local jobs, with over 95% of colleagues in stores on permanent contracts.

"We welcome the intention of the Bill in providing additional security for colleagues, but have concerns about measures that impose unnecessary processes and procedures for employers that are already doing the right thing. We are committed to working with the Government to ensure that the measures in the Bill are pro-worker, pro-business and pro-investment.

“We have been speaking with our members about these proposals for a number of months, and their biggest concern is how new sick pay rules can help promote rather than reduce attendance at work. In a tight labour market with a high proportion of the workforce unable to work due to illness, we need to support those people while giving confidence to businesses that the people they employ will come to work if they are able to. In shops employing two or three people on shift at any one time, staff absence can see a business grind to a halt. We welcome the government’s forthcoming consultation on statutory sick pay and will be highlighting our concerns to ensure that the new rules balance the needs of both workers and businesses.”

Measures announced in the Employment Rights Bill include:

  • Ending exploitative zero hours contracts and the right to guaranteed hours based on the hours worked during a 12 week reference period
  • Giving greater protections against unfair dismissal from day one of employment
  • Day one rights for paternity, parental and bereavement leave for workers
  • Changing the law to make flexible working the default for all, unless the employer can prove it’s unreasonable
  • Tackling low pay by accounting for the cost of living when setting the Minimum Wage and removing age bands (as already announced in the remit given to the Low Pay Commission earlier this year)
  • Establishing a new Fair Work Agency that will bring together different Government enforcement bodies, enforce holiday pay and strengthen statutory sick pay
  • Requiring employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.
  • Requiring reasonable notice for shift changes, and payment to colleagues for change or cancellation of shifts at short notice (specifics of notice periods to be determined)

As part of its ‘Make Work Pay’ plan, the Government is also consulting on a range of additional reforms to employment rules, including the introduction of a ‘Right to Switch Off’ outside of normal working hours and an expansion of the Equality (Race and Disparity) Bill to make it mandatory for large employers to report their ethnicity and disability pay gap.

More for you

C-store body warns of 'inflation-busting increase in wage costs'
Woman Holding British Pound
Getty Images/iStockphoto

C-store body warns of 'inflation-busting increase in wage costs'

Convenience store body Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) today (30) has warned the Chancellor about the negative effects of the new National Living Wage (NLW) increase, a day after the Chancellor announced a pay rise for over 3 million workers next year, with NLW rates rising by 6.7 perc cent.

From April 2025, the NLW will increase from £11.44 to £12.21 while 18-20 National Minimum Wage will rise by £1.40 per hour to £10 - the largest increase on record, marking the first step towards a single adult rate.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bacup Wine and Convenience shop, 34 Burnley Road, Bacup.

Bacup Wine and Convenience shop, 34 Burnley Road, Bacup.

Robbie MacDonald via LDRS

Shop’s licence bid rejected over illegal vapes and ‘no regard’ for children’s safety

A Rossendale shop has had a licence bid rejected after repeatedly selling vapes to children and having illegal products on its premises.

Management at the Ibra Superstore at 34 Burnley Road, Bacup, have shown ‘no regard’ for children’s protection and safety, and have insufficient controls for licensing, Rossendale councillors have ruled.

Keep ReadingShow less
SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR North of England retailer Dara Singh Randhawa’s family store has been awarded £100,000 of free stock after hitting all his targets since moving to the symbol.

Dara and his family, who have their SPAR store in Patrington in the East Riding of Yorkshire, joined SPAR through its association with James Hall & Co. Ltd in August 2023 having taken the decision to maximise the store’s potential.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pound Sterling bank notes
iStock

National Living Wage to increase to £12.21 in April 2025

The government has on Wednesday announced its acceptance of the Low Pay Commission’s (LPC) recommendations on the rates of the National Minimum Wage (NMW), including the National Living Wage (NLW).

The rates which will apply from 1 April 2025 are as follows:

Keep ReadingShow less
Michael Fletcher

Michael Fletcher

Former Nisa chief Michael Fletcher appointed SPAR UK managing director

SPAR UK has announced the appointment of Michael Fletcher as its new managing director.

Fletcher spent 22 years at Tesco plc, where he held numerous senior commercial roles in the UK, Ireland and Asia. He joined Co-op Retail in 2013 where he held the position of chief commercial officer before moving on to become CEO of Nisa Wholesale, a role he held until 2022.

Keep ReadingShow less