UK firms dodge Labour tax raid with WFH roles abroad June 13, 2025 UK companies are turning to work-from-home (WFH) South Africans and other workers in East Asia in a cost-cutting drive to dodge Rachel Reeves’ £20bn tax raid on employers and stringent workers’ rights. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has spoken about his determination to “put working people’s priorities first” while welfare cuts have been made to [...]
‘It can’t cope’: Employment Tribunal cases surge with calls for Government action ahead of Worker Rights Bill June 12, 2025 Employment cases have increased, with growing backlogs and the looming Bill, the Government is called to intervene before the situation worsens
Employment rights minister denies bill will deter hiring June 9, 2025 Labour’s employment rights minister has insisted that the government’s Employment Rights Bill won’t scare firms out of hiring, amid growing concern among businesses over the impact of rising costs and bureaucracy. Key private sector voices warn the bill will deter hiring, with more than half of employers polled by the Institute of Directors (IoD) warning [...]
Seven in 10 bosses think workers’ rights bill will dent growth June 6, 2025 Over seven in 10 bosses believe the government’s flagship workers’ rights overhaul will kibosh efforts to kickstart economic growth and lead to fewer new hires and more outsourcing of work abroad, fresh research has shown. According to a poll by the Institute of Directors (IoD), 72 per cent of business leaders in Britain believe that, [...]
Workers’ rights: £60bn industry warns against Labour overhaul June 4, 2025 The government’s flagship workers’ rights legislation is poised to have “serious unintended consequences” for firms’ capacity to take on new staff and offer them sufficient hours if ministers fail to consult more closely with employers, more than 120 facilities management bosses have warned. Writing in an open letter signed by the likes of FTSE 250 [...]
Businesses rethink legal strategy as costs of lawyers surge May 28, 2025 Increasing amount of legal work will be handled by in-house law teams rather than law firms as businesses face cost pressures
Labour tax hikes drive steepest fall in retail sentiment since Covid May 27, 2025 British retailers’ confidence has made the steepest dive in five years, after facing pressures from Rachel Reeves’ £26bn employer tax raid and uncertainty sparked by Donald Trump’s trade war. The drop is the most severe since the Covid-19 pandemic paralysed the UK high street, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Grim sentiment in [...]
Small businesses demand workers’ rights sick pay rebate May 26, 2025 Small business owners would continue hiring new staff despite fears around the government’s workers’ rights package if it contained a rebate on the overhaul’s new sick pay rules. According to a poll by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), 35 per cent of entrepreneurs and small business owners believe that a rebate for their firms [...]
‘Banter ban’ debate rages in House of Lords May 20, 2025 A House of Lords debate on the details of the Employment Rights Bill sparked a row over ‘cancel culture’ on Monday after members took sides on a clause dubbed the “banter ban.” The debate hinged on the definition of “third party harassment” and on whether employers should face a legal duty to protect staff from [...]
Now is not the time for Labour’s rushed Employment Rights Bill May 8, 2025 Labour's Employment Rights Bill is being rushed through parliament at the cost of small businesses, writes Lord Howard Leigh.