Punishing employers doesn’t help workers. Left as it is, Labour’s new employment bill will only further damage the labour market, writes Reed CEO James Reed

Having spent the last 30 years helping people find jobs, I’m all in favour of strengthening workers’ rights. They are the foundation of a good relationship between a business and its employees. But the new Employment Rights Bill, as it stands, has some aspects that are either very complicated or will put businesses off hiring people, which is the last thing the economy needs.

The Bill runs to 197 pages and will affect every employer in the country, whether they employ one person or 1.5m like the NHS.

The first proposal that needs very careful consideration is day one rights for workers to claim unfair dismissal. This is bound to put companies off from taking a risk when they employ someone. My concern is it will make it more difficult for the marginalised – people who have been unemployed, had career breaks or are ex-offenders – to get jobs.

It........

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