Now that the Conservatives have won the election I have attempted to show below their commitments in their manifesto around the area of employment. It is a lot less than if Labour had won but nevertheless you should be aware of what they have promised and be in a position to take steps to see how it will affect your business.
| Employment rights in general |
- Create a single enforcement body to police abuses of employment laws.
- Extend the entitlement to leave for unpaid carers to 1 week.
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| Employment status |
- Give workers the right to request a more predictable contract.
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| Independent contractors |
- Review how the self-employed can be better supported, for example by improving their access to finance and credit, making the tax system easier to navigate and improving broadband.
- Review whether the reforms to the IR35 regime in the private sector are the right way forward.
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| Equality and diversity |
- Publish a National Strategy for Disabled People before the end of 2020 which will look at ways to improve job opportunities and access for disabled people.
- Reduce the disability employment gap.
- Action to protect people from assault or harassment on grounds of sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or disability.
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| Working mothers |
- Reform redundancy law so that employers cannot discriminate against women when they return from maternity leave.
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| Working fathers |
- Promise to look at ways to made it easier for fathers to take paternity leave.
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| Other family-friendly |
- New right for parents to take extended leave for neo-natal care.
- Promise to help create higher quality, affordable wrap around and school holiday childcare.
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| Flexible working |
- Encourage flexible working and consult on making it the default position unless the employer has a good reason.
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| Pay |
- Increase the National Living Wage to 2/3rds of average earnings and extend it to those aged 21 and over (current age limit is 25).
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| Working hours |
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| Corporate governance |
- Improve incentives to tackle the problem of excessive executive pay and rewards for failure.
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