Government sets out next steps to improve the lives of
workers across the UK
Benefits include tips worth £200 million a year in the
pockets of hardworking people and more say over working
patterns
We are also backing British workers by introducing the
biggest ever increase to the National Living Wage
Millions are set to benefit as the government sets out the next
stages for a number of new Workers’ Rights Acts – giving more
money and more say back to UK workers.
Benefits range from £200 million more back in the pockets of
hard-working people, to greater flexibility over when, where and
how you work.
Business and Trade Minister said:
As we approach Christmas, it’s more vital than ever that we
do what we can to support workers and families across the
country.
I’d like to encourage businesses to be as flexible as possible
and give their hard-working employees the tips they deserve.
I want to thank the MPs who brought forward this legislation to
support hard working families and shape the UK’s outstanding
workers’ rights record.
The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023, which became law in
May this year, requires employers to pass all tips on to workers.
Most employers already pass on tips to the staff who earn them.
However, there are still some unacceptable tipping practices
by unscrupulous employers, which must be stopped.
Christmas is an incredibly busy season for hospitality workers,
and usually a time of year when customers are more generous with
their tips. All employees deserve to receive their fair share of
tips, so the Government has launched a public consultation on the
Tipping Act’s Code of Practice to gain feedback from employers,
workers and other stakeholders on the fair and transparent
distribution of tips.
Acas Chief Executive Susan Clews said:
The shift in recent years towards increased use of flexible
working by organisations has allowed more people to better
balance their working lives and enabled employers to attract and
retain skilled staff.
Acas has recently consulted on a new draft Code of Practice which
outlines good practice around requests for flexible working and
explains the forthcoming changes in the law to employers and
employees.
New rights to protect new parents from redundancy, give carers
extra support and help all employees work flexibly are also a
step closer as government has laid legislation with plans for the
measures to come in next spring.
These measures will improve the lives of hard-working families
across Britain, aiding workers who have caring responsibilities
or parents at risk of redundancy and ensuring everyone is able
work as flexibly as needed into the new year.
An extra 2.6 million workers across the UK will benefit from the
removal of the 26 week qualifying period that is currently
required before making a flexible working request.
Those with caring responsibilities will also be entitled to a
brand new employment right to a week’s leave to care for a
dependent.
Redundancy protections are also being extended to cover
pregnancy, as well as to new parents.
We are also backing British workers by introducing the biggest
ever increase to the National Living Wage, worth over £1,800 a
year for a full-time worker, fulfilling the pledge to end low
pay.
When this increase comes into effect in April, the National
Living Wage will be worth nearly £21,000 a year for a full time
worker – almost double, in cash terms, the amount which a full
time worker on the National Minimum Wage earned in 2010.
For the first time, 21 years olds will be legally entitled to the
National Living Wage, which is set to reach two-thirds of average
earnings.
