Prime Minister proposes liberalising employment laws
Employment Law & HR update 14/11/2011
Prime Minister David Cameron has detailed proposals which would
see employment laws liberalised.
Cameron also announced that he is abandoning the radical
suggestions made by Adrian Beecroft, which included sacking
unproductive staff with no explanation needed.
Instead, Cameron has proposed giving employers the right to
raise concerns about workers in 'protected conversations.'
Cameron said, “I want to deregulate and cut back on bureaucracy.
Not simply to help business but to create fair, simple processes
that are good for business and good for employees too.
“So we will be consulting on the introduction of protected
conversations so a boss and an employee feel able to sit down
together and have a frank conversation – at either's request,” the
Guardian newspaper reported the Prime Minister as saying.
Cameron also announced other proposals during his speech to
business leaders, which included raising the qualifying period for
unfair dismissal tribunal claims to two years from one year. This
was to encourage firms not to shy away from growth.
“This means anyone taking on a new employee can now be confident
that they have two years to get the relationship right, rather than
just one. And if things aren't working out then they can end the
relationship without being sued for unfair dismissal,” Cameron
said.
Other suggestions included rolling out fees for those employers
who wish to take their case to an tribunal, ensuring that claimants
would be less likely to pursue this option unless the case was
genuine.
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