In 2024, workers in the United Kingdom can expect to progressively see a number of changes to employment law. We’ve summarised some key changes here and, of course, their implications for our community.
Table of key changes in 2024
| Timeline | Change to employment law | Relevant law | What this means for you |
| January | Indirect discrimination claims no longer require the disadvantaged individual to share the same protect characteristic as the disadvantaged group | Equality Act 2010 | If you are or would be disadvantaged by an employer’s policy or practice, and you notice that a particular group with a shared protected characteristic (e.g. race) could be disadvantaged, you may be able to make an indirect discrimination claim. This is a particularly important change for allies and active bystanders who may wish to speak up about an injustice they’ve experienced that they recognise a particular group they’re not part of might be more likely to experience than other groups. |
| January | Employer liability for discriminatory public statements about recruitment | Equality Act 2010 | If your employer or prospective employer makes a statement that amounts to discrimination (e.g. “I would never hire Black people”), you can make a claim for direct discrimination. This applies even if they’re not currently recruiting, you’re not personally affected by the statement, or the statement was made by anyone (regardless of whether they’re an employee or not) who you think is reasonably capable of influencing a recruitment decision. |
| January | Disability definition to include any impairments which limit a person’s ability to “participate fully and effectively in work life” | Equality Act 2010 | Disability discrimination claims cover people with conditions that limit their ability to ‘fully and effectively’ participate in work life like other workers can, in addition to those with conditions that limit their ability to carry out day to day activities. |
| April | The National Living Wage increases to £11.44 per hour | If you are aged 21 and over, and paid the National Living Wage, it should be no less than £11.44 per hour. If you are aged 18-20, your minimum wage rate is now £8.60 per hour. | |
| April | Workers can make flexible working requests from day one of employment | Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 | You don’t have to wait a certain amount of time to make a flexible working request, you can do so on your first day on the job. Your employer doesn’t have to grant the request, but they must consider it. |
| April | New statutory right to carer’s leave | Carer’s Leave Act 2023 | If you are a carer, you have a legal right to a week’s unpaid leave to carry out caring duties. |
| April | Redundancy protection for maternity, adoption or parental leave returnees | Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act 2023 | If you’re pregnant or recently returned from maternity, adoption or shared parental leave, you have a legal right to be considered for alternative positions in your company before being made redundant. Your employer must prioritise you for ‘redeployment’ above others who are being made redundant. |
| July | Fair tipping | Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 | If you work in the hospitality sector (including agency workers), you are entitled to keep 100% of tips given to you. Tax requirements aside, your employer is not allowed to withhold any part of your tips from you. |
| September | Right to predictable work patterns | The Workers (Predictable Terms and Conditions) Act 2023 | If you’re a worker on a zero hour or similar contract, you can request a predictable working schedule. Your employer doesn’t have to grant your request, but they must consider it. |
| October | Employer proactivity about sexual harassment at work | The Worker Protection Act 2023 | Your employer is required to be proactive about preventing workplace sexual harassment. If you experience sexual harassment at work, you can attach a breach of this duty to your main sexual harassment claim. |
Sign up for updates directly to your inbox
Processing…
Success! You're on the list.
Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.
Bounce Black 