Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023 has received Royal Assent
26 September 2023
Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023 has received Royal Assent
- The Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023 has received Royal Assent
- The Act introduces a right for workers to request more predictable working patterns
- Government believes this will lead to benefits for businesses such as staff retention due to higher job satisfaction from workers having more predictable terms and conditions
- The ability to request more predictable working patterns will apply to workers;
- With 26 weeks service (which doesn’t have to be continuous)
- Whose existing working patterns lack certainty surrounding hours and times worked
- On fixed term contracts of 12 months or less
- Who are agency workers
- 2 applications can be made in a 12 month period
- The application must set out what change is being applied for and the date it should take effect
- Employers must deal with requests in a reasonable manner and certainly within one month
- If it is accepted, employers must offer the new terms within 2 weeks of granting the request
- Employers may refuse request based on one or all of the following grounds;
- Burden of additional costs
- Detrimental effect on ability to meet customer demand
- Detrimental impact on the recruitment of staff
- Detrimental impact on other aspects of the business
- Insufficiency of work during period the worker proposes to work
- Planned structural changes and,
- Any other grounds as the Secretary of State may specify by regulations
- See the Act here