On 15 September the House of Commons debated the various amendments that had been made to the Employment Rights Bill in the House of Lords. Although there had been discussion about whether the recent reshuffle would lead to a change in course for the government, a press release from the Department for Business and Trade prior to the debate made it clear that it intended to stay firmly on track. 

To no-one’s surprise, then, the changes made by the Lords to key provisions (particularly around unfair dismissal and rights for zero hours workers) were voted down. The Bill will now go back to the Lords and is expected to receive Royal Assent in the next couple of months. Employers (and their staff) shouldn’t expect changes to happen straightaway though, as the most high profile provisions are still subject to consultation and secondary legislation, with many not due to come into force until 2027.