ACS has written to new Business Secretary MP, urging the Government to
consider Lords amendments to the Employment Rights Bill that
would make the Bill more workable and pragmatic for local shops
and other businesses.
The Employment Rights Bill, first published in October 2024, set
out 28 employment reforms aimed at meeting the Government's
manifesto commitment to ‘make work pay'.
In the letter, ACS highlights the flexibility and security that
convenience stores already provide to the 443,000 people that
work in the convenience sector. The amendments that have been
proposed by the Lords would define ‘short notice' for shift
cancellations as less than 48 hours and would change a
requirement to offer guaranteed hours into a right for employees
to request guaranteed hours.
Figures from the 2025 ACS Colleague Survey show that 96% of
people working in the convenience sector have a permanent
contract, with 53% contracted to work full time hours. The
Colleague Survey also shows that 72% of colleagues have never had
a shift cancelled.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We welcome the
protections that the Employment Rights Bill provides workers, but
the Bill must also be pragmatic for convenience retailers running
a business. There is widespread support in the business community
for amendments put forward by the Lords that would ensure that
the Bill is both pro-worker and pro-business, and we encourage
the Business Secretary to consider supporting them in
Parliament.”
Measures set to be introduced in the Employment Rights Bill
include:
- Ending exploitative zero hours contracts
- Giving greater protections against unfair dismissal from day
one of employment
- Day one rights for paternity, parental and bereavement leave
for workers
- Changing the law to make flexible working the default for
all, unless the employer can prove it's unreasonable
- Requiring employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent
third-party harassment in the workplace
- Requiring reasonable notice for shift changes
The Employment Rights Bill has almost completed its journey
through Parliament, with final amendments being considered before
the Bill receives Royal Assent and becomes law. ACS gave evidence
to a parliamentary committee on the Bill in November 2024, urging
the Government to ensure that the Bill avoids unnecessary
bureaucracy at a time when retailers are under pressure to make
their businesses as productive as possible.
The full letter to the
Secretary of State can be found here
