'Gov must listen' | Employment Rights Bill putting “brakes on hiring”, retailers warn

A survey of HR Directors (HRDs) of leading retailers reveals the scale of concerns about the impact of the Employment Rights Bill.

Over 70% of retail HRDs felt the Bill would have a negative or very negative impact on their business, with fewer than one-in-ten believing it would have a positive impact.

Over half (52%) of retail HRDs suggested the Employment Rights Bill would result in a reduction in staff numbers in their business (35% unchanged; 3% increased; 10% “don’t know”). Meanwhile, 61% said that the Employment Rights Bill would reduce flexibility in job offerings (23% unchanged, 7% increase, 10% “don’t know”).

The biggest concern for HRDs is around proposals to establish rights to guaranteed hours, which risk making it much harder to offer people part-time jobs. 1.5 million of the 3 million people in retail currently work part-time, which allows them to work as much or as little as they need, and to balance work with their other life commitments.