Employment Rights
This coverage explores employment rights issues affecting the UK retail workforce, focusing on legislation, workplace policies, and disputes that shape employer–employee relationships. Reporting includes updates on minimum wage changes, working hours, holiday entitlement, redundancy processes, and tribunal outcomes. Insight is tailored for retail executives, HR professionals, and managers responsible for compliance, workforce planning, and employee relations.
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Nov- 2025 -28 NovemberGovernment
BRC welcomes unfair dismissal u-turn
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has welcomed news that the government is no longer planning to include unfair dismissal from day one in its Employment Rights Bill. Under the proposals, employees would have been able to take their employers to tribunal for unfair dismissal from their first day of employment…
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11 NovemberComment
Flexible working: the new norm retailers can’t afford to ignore
Flexible working changed during the pandemic and for many it offered a newfound sense of balance. But five years on, flexibility is under pressure. Across the sector, “return-to-office” mandates are on the rise. John Lewis is one example, now requiring its commercial teams to spend “at least three days a…
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4 NovemberGovernment
BRC urges MPs to back peers’ changes to Employment Rights Bill
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has called on MPs to support amendments made by peers to the Employment Rights Bill when it returns to the House of Commons tomorrow (Wednesday 4 November). While the trade body has supported the government’s aim of tackling “unscrupulous employers”, it also warned that parts…
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Oct- 2025 -30 OctoberGovernment
Usdaw condemns peers for voting down Employment Rights bill
Usdaw has condemned Conservative and Liberal Democrat peers in the House of Lords for voting against various parts of the Employment Rights Bill, sending it back to the House of Commons. Tory and Lib Dem peers voted against measures surrounding zero-hours contracts, unfair dismissal from day one, industrial action ballot…
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23 OctoberEconomy
Usdaw welcomes 6.7% rise in real Living Wage
Retail trade union Usdaw has welcomed a 6.7% increase in the real Living Wage, describing it as “a welcome boost for the lowest-paid workers”. It comes as the Living Wage Foundation announced yesterday (22 October) that the new rates will rise to £13.45 per hour across the UK and £14.80…
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Sep- 2025 -16 SeptemberGovernment
Usdaw calls on peers to end opposition to Employment Rights Bill
Retail union Usdaw has urged Conservative and Liberal Democrat peers to drop their opposition to the Employment Rights Bill after the government rejected all amendments proposed in the House of Lords. It said the Employment Rights Bill would enact “major” changes to UK employment law. Key proposals include banning exploitative…
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Jul- 2025 -28 JulyEconomy
BRC welcomes Lords’ changes to Employment Rights Bill
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has welcomed amendments put forward by the House of Lords to the Employment Rights Bill, describing them as “positive, practical and pragmatic” steps to protect local, flexible and part-time jobs. Key changes proposed by peers include turning a right to guaranteed hours into a right…
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16 JulyGovernment
Employment Rights Bill could cause ‘chronic’ overstaffing, Next boss warns
The boss of Next has warned that the Employment Rights Bill may leave businesses “chronically overstaffed”, particularly during seasonal quiet periods. Speaking at a House of Lords debate on Monday (14 July), Lord Wolfson said plans to ban zero-hours contracts and require companies to give staff a guaranteed minimum number…
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Jun- 2025 -10 JuneHigh Street
ONS Data: Retail loses over 360,000 jobs in a decade
Retail has lost over 360,000 jobs in the past decade, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), further highlighting the difficulties the sector is facing. The figures show there were 2.76 million jobs in retail in March 2025, while the four-quarter average, which smooths out…
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10 JuneEconomy
Retail sales rise 1% in May despite low non-essential spending
Total retail sales rose by 1% year-on-year in the four weeks to 31 May, up from 0.7% in the same period last year, despite customers cutting back on non-essential purchases, according to new figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). It comes as consumer confidence had risen in May, supported…
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