Future Retirement Success
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks

Future Retirement Success

Business

Zero-hours contract crackdown: staff could be offered fixed hours after three months

by September 20, 2024
September 20, 2024
Zero-hours contract crackdown: staff could be offered fixed hours after three months

Companies may soon be required to offer regular contracts to workers on zero-hours agreements after just three months, under proposed reforms being discussed by the Labour Government.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds informed business leaders and unions in a private meeting that new legislation could oblige employers to offer zero-hours staff a regular contract with guaranteed hours after 12 weeks. The move is part of Labour’s wider push to end “exploitative” employment practices, though details are still being finalised ahead of the unveiling of the employment rights bill next month.

The three-month threshold follows the example set by McDonald’s, which in 2017 gave staff the option to switch to contracts with minimum guaranteed hours. Most employees chose to remain on flexible terms, but the initiative has been cited as a model for balancing worker protections with business needs.

Sources involved in the discussions said opinions were split, with some business leaders suggesting a longer qualifying period and union representatives advocating for a shorter time frame. A Whitehall insider explained that the three-month proposal was designed to prompt clearer responses from businesses, with further details to be developed later.

Labour has pledged to clamp down on “one-sided flexibility” in the workplace. Proposals include requiring employers to compensate staff for late-notice shift cancellations, preventing workers from being financially disadvantaged when shifts are dropped last-minute. While Labour originally considered a full ban on zero-hours contracts, it has backed away from this after resistance from businesses, particularly in the hospitality and leisure sectors, which argue that the contracts offer valuable flexibility for both workers and employers.

The discussion over zero-hours contracts is part of Labour’s promise to deliver the largest overhaul of workers’ rights in decades. However, business leaders have expressed concern about the potential costs of the reforms. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) reported that only 26 per cent of businesses feel confident they can absorb the financial impact without harming growth, investment, or jobs.

Tensions have also emerged within the Government over how to handle probation periods in the new system. Rayner is pushing for full employment rights from day one, after a short probation, while Reynolds reportedly favours a longer probation period, potentially lasting up to nine months.

The Government’s flagship employment rights bill is expected to be unveiled in the coming weeks, as ministers work to reconcile business concerns with their commitment to improving worker protections.

Read more:
Zero-hours contract crackdown: staff could be offered fixed hours after three months

0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
Trump has higher favorability numbers than Taylor Swift, poll finds
next post
When Accountability Fades: The Toxic Reality Facing Bramley and Beyond

You may also like

Leadership Development: Unlocking the Inner Leader

May 24, 2025

Drivers offered share in EV charging start-up Bonnet

March 1, 2023

Pay inflation peaks as labour market cools, but...

December 4, 2023

Govt announces £1.4bn levelling-up devolution deal for north...

December 28, 2022

New Prime Minister Truss needs to reform more...

September 5, 2022

Hunt reverses ‘almost all’ of mini-budget tax cuts...

October 17, 2022

New research shows optimism on the high street...

November 15, 2023

How to Manage a Software Development Project On...

August 19, 2024

Dame Julia Hoggett and Insiya Jafferjee named winners...

May 1, 2025

Business co-founded by TV couple Lorri Haines and...

May 31, 2023

Leadership Development: Unlocking the Inner Leader

May 24, 2025

Drivers offered share in EV charging start-up Bonnet

March 1, 2023

Pay inflation peaks as labour market cools, but...

December 4, 2023

Govt announces £1.4bn levelling-up devolution deal for north...

December 28, 2022

New Prime Minister Truss needs to reform more...

September 5, 2022

Hunt reverses ‘almost all’ of mini-budget tax cuts...

October 17, 2022

New research shows optimism on the high street...

November 15, 2023

How to Manage a Software Development Project On...

August 19, 2024

Dame Julia Hoggett and Insiya Jafferjee named winners...

May 1, 2025

Business co-founded by TV couple Lorri Haines and...

May 31, 2023

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free

    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Bank Secrecy Act and Capital Gains Targeted for Reform at Bitcoin Policy Summit

      June 30, 2025
    • A Fresh Contender in Online Trading – But Does It Deliver?

      June 30, 2025
    • Supreme Court to hear Republican challenge that could shake up US elections

      June 30, 2025
    • Exiled Iranian prince tells Trump he can be ‘one of history’s great peacemakers’ amid talk of regime change

      June 30, 2025
    • Senators enter marathon vote-a-rama as Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ deadline barrels near

      June 30, 2025
    • Tillis denounces Trump ‘big, beautiful bill’ hours after surprise retirement announcement

      June 30, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (8,344)
    • Investing (2,083)
    • Politics (15,875)
    • Stocks (3,178)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: futureretirementsuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 futureretirementsuccess.com | All Rights Reserved