4th July General Election – the manifesto pledges of the main parties that could impact upon HR for Employers

As all the political parties are doing what they can to get representation in the next term of Parliament, the Conservative, Green, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Reform parties have all made clear manifesto pledges to overhaul some employment and HR practices in the UK.

I have picked the top 3 from each Party that could have an impact on the employers we support:

The Conservative Party

1. Overhaul the ‘fit note’ system, moving responsibility from GP’s to other health care professionals.
2. Cut employees national insurance to 6% from 2027.
3. …not much else.

The Green Party

1. Move to a four-day working week.
2. Equal rights for all employees from day 1 of employment.
3. Increase the National Minimum Wage to a flat rate of £15 per hour for all.

The Labour Party

1. Day 1 rights to sick pay and paternity leave and, most significant, unfair dismissal. Employees need to have 2 years continual service to claim unfair dismissal, currently.
2. Banning zero hours contract.
3. Removing age bands for adults in receipt of the National Minimum Wage.

The Liberal Democrats Party

1. Increase the National Minimum Wage by 20% for people on zero hours contract.
2. Establish a new category as a ‘dependent contractor’ status for self employed workers, affording a minimum earning level, sick and holidays pay (although something like this already exists [confused .com].
3. Improve Statutory Sick Pay rights, available from day 1 of absence.

Reform UK Party

1. A promise to abolish IR35 rules.
2. A general pledge to “scrap thousands of laws that hold back British business…”.
3. A plan to “scrap EU Regulations with immediate effect”.

Make of that what you will!