To think that once the Workers’ Rights/Employment Rights Bill passes, it’ll become almost impossible to get a new job?

[RedTapeReality]

I’m hearing a lot lately from business owners and people talking about how hire/fire rules, tribunal risks and zero-hours/contract changes are going to make companies really cautious. The claim is once the Bill is active, instead of recruiting new people, employers will just shuffle existing roles, avoid hiring altogether or outsource because hiring someone new = more liability.

I get wanting better rights. But AIBU to worry that this might backfire, making it harder for people (especially juniors or those with less experience) to break into jobs?

Is it just pessimism or do you think employers will avoid hiring and stick to internal promotions/temporary roles etc instead?

We always hear the same moaning whenever worker's rights are improved.
Same complaints about the 40 hour work week, banning child labour, minimum wage, equal pay etc.
The sky hasn't fallen in yet.

I work in employment law and that’s the sense I’m getting. It’s a really strange piece of legislation with the potential to have some unintended consequences. For example, the fire and rehire stuff sounds great as a headline but I’ve been advising clients on how they will ever be able to roll out new employment contracts to the whole employee population. It will be much more complex.

Probation periods will likely become longer by default and are more likely to be extended to give employers a bit more protection. It’s unclear still what the ‘light touch’ dismissal procedure will be.

None of it is really ideal when we need to drive economic growth.

Wait til fartage gets any power… workers rights will be a thing of the past!

Unless business is literally going to stop there will always be jobs

Businesses will take fewer risks the harder it is to remove people if it doesn’t work out. Which doesn’t chime with the government wanting business to help long term unemployed or disabled candidates on. At all.

I suspect this may happen.

I saw an interesting interview once with a woman who lived in a country where it was extremely difficult to fire people. She said that it was one reason that business in that country was poor - people were reluctant to open businesses because the rad tape and liabilities of various kinds were so significant.

It makes sense to me. I work in an organisation where it has been difficult to fire people because of the poor administration which doesn't document enough. After one bad experience, I've become extremely cautious when I hire and I find I'm very often now extending the probation period. I can't take the chance that my small team of employees is saddled with someone who can't be trusted or is just dead weight.

Just to add - It also means I am much less likely to give a chance to someone who needs it but might no appear at first glance to be the safest bed, and that I'm more likly to go with someone I know or who has a recommendation from someone I trust.

All of which would make it more difficult for less connected people to get hired.

Which doesn't seem like a great thing on a workplace wide scale.

How dare the Labour government increase workers rights, and fulfil a manifesto pledge.

I work right now in a nice big well earning company which does not give contracts to certain people. Pays them on time and fair but ...anyway

It's almost like they want us unemployed and dependent on the state. .

Exactly.
The gov want to shove the sick and disabled off of benefits, but who is going to take them on?