Policy
There are no provisions in the Employment Rights Bill, but the Next Steps document indicates that the Government will:
- consult on how to extend health and safety protections for the self-employed; and
- review health and safety guidance and regulations to modernise them, looking at neurodiversity awareness in the workplace, how to update with respect to extreme temperatures, whether existing regulations and guidance is adequate to support and protect those experiencing the symptoms of long COVID, and to ensure health and safety reflects the diversity of the workforce.
Timing and developments
Not included in the Employment Rights Bill.
Some early changes to health and safety guidance could potentially be delivered earlier as part of the Government’s non-legislative delivery of reforms if the Government were minded to do so. Although, a review of the guidance and regulations is promised ‘in due course’ as part of the longer-term delivery of reforms. The Government has also promised to consult on extending protections to the self-employed.
Await developments.
Sources
Plan to Make Work Pay, Next Steps to Make Work Pay.