The UK’s business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, has defended Labour’s proposed Employment Rights Bill, saying that allowing home working and flexible hours would lead to a more productive and loyal workforce. The bill includes proposals such as granting workers the right to disconnect outside working hours, banning zero-hours contracts and permitting staff to work contracted hours over fewer working days. Reynolds said employers should judge their staff on outcomes, not a culture of presenteeism, adding that Labour’s proposals should not worry business leaders. However, business groups have expressed concerns that the bill could raise the costs of hiring staff and that there could be unintended consequences, such as ending overtime.
Since April, workers have had the right to request flexible working hours, without firms being required to accept such requests. Labour pledged to introduce a package of employment rights within 100 days of election but Reynolds said this would not mean immediate legal changes. The proposed legislation includes the repeal of anti-strike legislation brought in under the Conservatives and a right to flexible working by default.
Reynolds criticised former Tory leader and MP Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, who said he wished to end the culture of working from home across the civil service and industry as a whole. Reynolds said such a position was bizarre given the country’s economy and continuing challenges.
Prof Efpraxia Zamani, associate professor of information systems at Durham University Business School, warned that using remote working could make it harder for managers to notice remote workers, resulting in their being overlooked for promotion. Reynolds suggested that remote working could help tackle regional economic inequality by giving people who could not travel for work more choices; he also stated that retaining probationary periods for new staff was important, although he declined to comment as to how long they should last
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