Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Accepted
Define reference periods for the right to guaranteed hours in regulations.
Recommendation
Without a reference period defined in primary legislation, there is a lack of certainty among workers, trade unions and businesses as to how the right to guaranteed hours will work in practice. To ensure certainty, the Government should define as soon as possible through regulations how many weeks the initial and subsequent reference periods should be. (Recommendation, Paragraph 13)
Government Response Summary
The government has announced that the initial reference period for the right to guaranteed hours will be 12 weeks and intends to consult on the length of subsequent reference periods before making secondary legislation to provide clarity.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government appreciates the need for certainty and intends to provide clarity on the length of initial and subsequent reference periods for the right to guaranteed hours. To help set expectations for both workers and businesses, the Government has already announced that the initial reference period is expected to be 12 weeks. The Government will consult on the length of subsequent reference periods before making secondary legislation. Additionally, the Government will ensure there is sufficient time ahead of the commencement of the regulations for businesses and workers to familiarise themselves with the new rights.