The IER is delighted to launch our new podcast. In this 6-part series, our labour law experts will be dissecting the new employment legislation brought forward ...
"Having a Proactive duty on employers to keep their workplace free of sexual harassment is, in principle, a very good step forward.The way in which it's formulated is that the employer must take on all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment, and the key issue is what are all those reasonable steps?"In the sixth episode of the Institute of Employment Rights podcast, equality and discrimination experts Professor Sandy Fredman and Dr. Joe Atkinson analyse the Labour Party's proposed changes to equality legislation and their impact on workers through the Employment Rights Bill, the Equality Race and Disability Bill, and other forthcoming legislation.The discussion, hosted by IER director James Harrison, covers new proactive duties on employers to prevent sexual harassment, the implications of extending paternity leave, the impact of mandatory pay gap reporting for ethnicity and disability, and the socioeconomic duty on public bodies.The episode also explores the challenges posed by AI in the workplace, including the need for regulatory measures to ensure compliance with employment laws and equality standards. Chapters;00:00 Welcome07:33 Equality Action Plans10:25 Including outsourced workers in pay gap reporting12:52 Changes to paternal leave23:12 AI and equality in the workplace28:05 Socio-economic duty - will it finally be enacted?32:59 Thank you for joining the debate Credits:The IER podcast is sponsored by Thompsons Solicitors.For Thompsons resources and advice on Trade Union law visit thompsonstradeunion.lawThis podcast is produced for IER by Creative Kin.To find out more, visit creativekin.co.uk.Recorded at Creative Kin's London studios.Studio Producer and Editor: Jason CaffreyTheme Music: Daniel Jorgensen
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Worker Status, Worker Rights: Closing The Gaps In The Employment Rights Bill
Will the Employment Rights Bill 2024 pave the way to reform of employment status for workers? Or will it leave open a trap door for worker rights to fall through?Institute of Employment Rights Director James Harrison examines the gaps in the Labour Party's Employment Rights Bill with Keith Ewing, Professor of Public Law at King's College London, and Nicola Countouris, Professor of Labour Law at University College London.These distinguished experts explore the troubled issue of employment status and delve into the significant elements of the bill aimed at improving workers' rights.They examine the urgency of implementing new rights, the concept of day one rights and the value of probationary periods for new hires.Digging into zero-hour contracts, the potential for employee coercion, and the impact of sectoral collective bargaining on wages and inequality, James, Keith and Nicola shed light on the bill’s potential impact on workers and the challenges it faces in addressing systemic problems within the employment landscape.Chapters00:00 Worker Status, Worker Rights: Closing The Gaps In The Employment Rights Bill00:01 Welcome01:33 Five Questions The Bill Must Address03:27 Protecting Workers from Unfair Dismissal06:22 Day One Rights In Perspective09:01 Probation Periods And Short-term Contracts10:18 Why Worker Status Needs Reform16:27 A Two-Part Framework for Employment Status18:00 Case Study: Supreme Court Ruling On Deliveroo Riders22:19 Zero Hours Contracts: People As Commodities26:15 Lord Hendy's Status Of Workers Bill28:12 Collective Bargaining Beyond The Adult Social Care Sector29:42 Thank You for ListeningCredits:The IER podcast is supported by Thompsons Solicitors.This podcast is produced for IER by Creative Kin.To find out more, visit creativekin.co.uk/ierRecorded at Creative Kin's London studios.Studio Producer and Editor: Jason CaffreyTheme Music: Daniel Jorgensen
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Getting The Bill Right: Lessons From Legislation Past
How can the experience of prior legislation help get the best out of Labour's new Employment Rights Bill? And will the Care Sector be the new flag-bearer for improved terms and conditions?Carolyn Jones, Senior Vice President of the Institute of Employment Rights, leads a detailed discussion on Labour's new Employment Rights Bill.Joined by IER Vice President Professor Lydia Hayes and Executive Committee member Sarah Veale, the panel examines past legislative experiences, challenges in drafting effective employment laws, and the need for precise legal wording.Special focus is given to the radical shift towards sectoral collective bargaining in adult social care. Emphasis is given to the importance of union involvement, addressing systemic issues like unequal pay and the pitfalls of zero-hour contracts.Despite challenges, new legislative consultations provide hope for fairer employment practices.The show closes with a call to reinforce workers' power through unions, balancing collective and individual rights.About The Institute of Employment RightsThe IER aims to develop modern employment laws and offers publications, briefings, and conference papers.Supporters can subscribe and receive newsletters at www.ier.org.uk.Episode Chapters:00:00 Getting The Bill Right: Lessons From Legislation Past00:47 Introduction04:31 Why Legal Language Matters05:42 Balancing The Long View06:32 Anticipating Problems With The New Bill07:59 Rights For Part-Time Workers09:58 How Employers Are Responding12:04 Looking Forward: The Care Work Sector14:46 Collective Bargaining In Adult Social Care16:18 A New Voice For Care Workers?20:03 Care work: A Marginalised Bellwether23:50 Balancing Individual Vs Collective Rights29:45 ConclusionCredits:The IER podcast is sponsored by Thompsons Solicitors.For Thompsons resources and advice on Trade Union law visit thompsonstradeunion.law.This podcast is produced for IER by Creative Kin.To find out more, visit creativekin.co.uk.Recorded at Creative Kin's London studios.Studio Producer and Editor: Jason CaffreyTheme Music: Daniel Jorgensen
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The Employment Rights Bill: A New Era For Workers?
What will Labour's new employment legislation bring for workers and trade unions?In this insightful episode, Carolyn Jones Vice President of the Institute of Employment Rights is joined by Lord John Hendy KC and Professor Keith Ewing to discuss the imperative need for comprehensive reforms in UK labour laws.Reflecting on changes since the Thatcher era, they explore critical issues such as sectoral collective bargaining, the establishment of a Ministry of Labour, and alignment with international legal standards.Key topics include the Labour Party’s new Employment Rights Bill, the impact of weakened trade unions, the controversial nine-month probation period, and specific cases like the P&O Ferries dismissals.The discussion emphasises the importance of effective enforcement mechanisms, protecting workers' rights, and the political dynamics influencing these legislative changes.Listeners are encouraged to engage in the debate over these pressing labour law reforms.About The Institute for Employment RightsThe IER aims to develop modern employment laws and offers publications, briefings, and conference papers.Supporters can subscribe and receive newsletters at www.ier.org.uk.Episode Chapters:00:00 The Employment Rights Bill: A New Era For Workers?00:37 Introduction03:01 Why UK Labour Law Needs Revision05:45 Four Pillars of Robust Employment Rights07:41 A Ministry of Labour Still Needed11:50 Sectoral Collective Bargaining17:15 Collective Action, Collective Rights20:02 P&O Ferries: A Case Study22:48 Legal Impunity For Businesses27:29 Day One Rights Vs Probation Periods30:28 Amending The Employment Rights Bill32:07 ConclusionThe IER podcast is supported by Thompsons Solicitors.For Thompsons resources and advice on Trade Union law visit thompsonstradeunion.law.This podcast is produced for IER by Creative Kin.To find out more, visit creativekin.co.uk.Recorded at Creative Kin's London studios.Studio Producer and Editor: Jason CaffreyTheme Music: Daniel Jorgensen
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Welcome to the IER podcast!
The Institute of Employment Rights (IER) was established in 1989 to combat anti-trade union legislation enacted during the Thatcher era.It has since created an extensive library of labour law resources with the help of a network of volunteer lawyers, academics, and trade unionists.The IER aims to develop modern employment laws and offers publications, briefings, and conference papers.Supporters can subscribe and receive newsletters at www.ier.org.uk.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to the Institute of Employment Rights00:22 IER's Contributions and Resources00:58 Support and Subscription InformationCredits:The IER podcast is sponsored by Thompsons Solicitors.For Thompsons resources and advice on Trade Union law visit thompsonstradeunion.law.This podcast is produced for IER by Creative Kin.To find out more, visit creativekin.co.uk.Recorded at Creative Kin's London studios.Studio Producer and Editor: Jason CaffreyTheme Music: Daniel Jorgensen
The IER is delighted to launch our new podcast. In this 6-part series, our labour law experts will be dissecting the new employment legislation brought forward by Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government.As many of our readers will know, the IER have been informing the debate on improving and strengthening labour laws for workers over the last 30 years. This body of work (undertaken on a voluntary basis by our labour law academics and lawyers) provided the blueprint for Labour's green paper on employment rights, New Deal for Workers document, their National Policy Forum document, and now their 'Making Work Pay' proposals, which are being brought to life by the Government's proposed Employment Rights Bill. Join us, as our experts consider how the proposals in the Bill measure up, and as we highlight the pitfalls and the possibilities the Bill may pose for the UK's 33 million workers.The IER Podcast is kindly supported by Thompsons Solicitors.
UK