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One of the most impressive election commitments of the Labor party affecting companies was to introduce basic individual rights from the first day of work of a worker – scrapping the existing two-year qualifying period for protection against some forms of unfair dismissal.
This pledge is part of a package of employment reforms which Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called “the biggest level of workers’ rights in a generation”.
But this week, Whitehall figures told the Financial Times that the legislation would actually allow companies to keep employees on probation for up to six months. “It’s a decent compromise after a lot of back and forth,” said one of the ministers leading the project. The government declined to comment.
Some employers argue that establishing stronger employment rights earlier would make them more cautious about taking on new staff, according to a CBI survey.
However, others argue that greater stability for new employees may make staff more willing to move companies, as they do not need to give up rights for a period of time to make the change.
So what do you think: when should workers get the right to full employment? After the first day? Six months or more? Tell us your view by voting in our poll or commenting below.
