#employment-rights

#employment-rights

The government has U-turned on its manifesto commitment to offer all workers protection against unfair dismissal from their first day in a job. Ministers now plan to introduce the right after six months instead, following concerns from business groups. The government argued it was making the climbdown to stop its employment legislation being delayed in the House of Lords, where it has run into opposition.

The woman, who worked for Asba Meats in Co Clare was awarded over €40,000 for sexual harassment She said she was "overwhelmed with fear" and felt the businessman was "looking for something else" She was relying on the firm for a work permit so she could work full-time and was "desperate for hours", WRC heard

She will argue that eight in ten firms believe the legislation, in its current form, will make hiring harder, acting as a brake on economic growth. "Lasting reform takes partnership, not a closed door," she will say. "When eight in ten firms say this bill will make it harder to hire, they are brakes on growth. The government must change course and ask business and unions to forge consensus through compromise."

DPD, which reported pre-tax profits of nearly 200m last year and raised the pay of its highest-paid director by 90,000 to 1.5m including bonuses, told self-employed drivers it was unilaterally cutting their delivery rates. The drivers said the move would cost them about 6,000 each per year or up to 8,000 for those who take on extra deliveries at Christmas.

In a fresh setback for the government, the Lords voted to support a string of Conservative-backed amendments to the employment rights bill late on Monday for the third time running. In a protracted showdown with the upper chamber, the Lords vote curtails a manifesto promise to give workers the right to a guaranteed hours contract, and day-one protections against unfair dismissal.

A Trinity College lecturer who secretly recorded his senior colleagues saying he would not be considered for a job has been awarded more than €30,000 at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

The incentive offers a financial boost that is designed to offset the cost of a membership with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The offer comes at a time when small business owners across the UK are facing increasing uncertainty over HR compliance - an area where FSB membership offers vital support - as the Employment Rights Bill travels through parliament.

Proposals to give new workers day one protection against unfair dismissal has suffered a heavy defeat in the House of Lords on Wednesday, marking a setback for the government.

According to analysis commissioned by the UK's Trades Union Congress, changes to sick pay could benefit British businesses by as much as £2.4 billion through productivity gains.

"No one who is going through the heartbreak of pregnancy loss should have to go back to work before they are ready," said Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.

In Germany, voice actors have expressed concerns about AI replacing their roles, emphasizing that dubbing isn't simply language translation but an adaptation rich in cultural nuances.

"It's just a stab in the back," the 63-year-old band director told New Orleans' NBC affiliate WDSU. "It's just time for this to stop. The rest of the free world does not think homosexuality is a big deal."

The government's planned review of parental leave aims to modernize the outdated UK system, which has been criticized for being one of the worst in developed nations.

"The ABC fired radio host Antoinette Lattouf in December 2023 for expressing views supporting Palestine and calling for Israel to end its bombardment of Gaza."

Across the UK, 518 employers have been named for failure to pay National Minimum or Living Wage, affecting nearly 60,000 workers with total underpayments exceeding £7.4 million.

A key driver behind the expected rise in cases is Labour's pledge to make unfair dismissal rights available from the first day of employment - a significant shift from the current two-year qualifying period.

The Employment Rights Bill aims to enhance protections for workers while ensuring that businesses can operate efficiently, creating a more equitable work environment.

As a result of her exposure to that environment, her respiratory condition worsened and she was diagnosed with a chest infection and pleurisy - inflammation of the lining of the lungs and chest cavity.