Policy Review
Employment Rights Bill 2024
Strengthening worker protections with day-one unfair dismissal rights and flexible working.
Policy Details: #HMS-2025-01
Title: Employment Rights Bill 2024
Sector: Workers' Rights / Economy
Overview: Comprehensive reform strengthening employment protections including unfair dismissal rights from day one, flexible working as default, and enhanced protections for gig economy workers.
How It Works: Employers must provide clear contracts within 7 days. Workers gain unfair dismissal protection immediately upon hiring. Flexible working requests become a day-one right with mandatory employer consideration.
Estimated Cost: £2.4 billion annually in compliance and administrative costs for businesses. Government enforcement budget: £180 million over 4 years.
Implementation Timeline: Phase 1 (Oct 2024) - Day-one rights enacted. Phase 2 (Apr 2025) - Zero-hours contract reforms. Phase 3 (2026) - Full enforcement mechanisms. Phase 4 (2028) - Complete rollout.
Expected Outcomes: 9 million workers gain new protections. Projected 15% reduction in employment tribunal cases. Estimated £1.8bn productivity gain through improved worker retention.