The Taylor Review: What, as an employer, do I need to know?

In February, the Government published its response to the Taylor Review’s independent report into modern working practices. This announcement is set to bring about changes to employment rights and the working conditions of many people in the UK. But what should employers do in the short term? HR Grapevine spoke to Kevin Barrow, contingent workforce partner at international legal practice Osborne Clarke LLP, to find out... 

What changes are likely to happen?

The first legal changes will likely focus on rights to information, the measures that increase awareness of rights, and obligations on employers to publicly report about how they engage with various types of workers. The Government has also proposed that all workers have a statement of day-one rights, including the right to a payslip alongside holiday and sick pay. Agency and gig workers will be provided a breakdown of costs deducted from their wages and details of who pays them.

The Government has also indicated its plans to ‘go further’ than the recommendations outlined in the Taylor Report in a number of other respects. Such plans include the right to request fixed hours contracts to all gig, agency and zero hours workers. This, the government asserts, will lead to more financial security for these workers.