Reforms to employment regulations will go ahead
GEORGE Osborne yesterday reiterated the government’s plans to reform employment laws, including doubling the time before an employee can bring an unfair dismissal claim and introducing fees for tribunals.
First announced in April’s budget, the Chancellor said the changes would help firms that are “afraid to hire new staff because of their fear about the costs involved if it doesn’t work out”.
The government already confirmed yesterday it planned to reduce the burden on small firms caused by health and safety legislation – including exempting more than a million self-employed workers altogether.
The reforms are part of a package of recommendations put together as part of a review led by King’s College London profressor Ragnar Lofstedt, which also suggested employers should not be liable for damages if they’ve done all they can to avoid risks.