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17 September 2025
Issue: 8131 / Categories: Legal News , Employment , Disciplinary&grievance procedures , Compensation
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Employment rights ping-pong

MPs voted to reject peers’ amendments to the Employment Rights Bill this week

The House of Lords had proposed measures to dilute the Bill, putting forward an amendment to replace protection from unfair dismissal from the first day of employment with a six-month qualifying period. Peers also wanted to define ‘short notice’ on compensation for shift changes and cancelled work as less than 48 hours.

The landmark Bill aims to end exploitative zero-hours contracts, make flexible working the default, ban ‘fire and rehire’ practices and give employees day-one rights to parental and bereavement leave and protection against unfair dismissal.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Partner joins commercial property team in Taunton office

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Londstanding London firm appoints new senior partner

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Commercial team in London welcomes technology specialist as partner

NEWS
What safeguards apply when trust corporations are appointed as deputy by the Court of Protection? 
Disputing parties are expected to take part in alternative dispute resolution (ADR), where this is suitable for their case. At what point, however, does refusing to participate cross the threshold of ‘unreasonable’ and attract adverse costs consequences?
When it comes to free legal advice, demand massively outweighs supply. 'Millions of people are excluded from access to justice as they don’t have anywhere to turn for free advice—or don’t know that they can ask for help,' Bhavini Bhatt, development director at the Access to Justice Foundation, writes in this week's NLJ
When an ex-couple is deciding who gets what in the divorce or civil partnership dissolution, when is it appropriate for a third party to intervene? David Burrows, NLJ columnist and solicitor advocate, considers this thorny issue in this week’s NLJ
NLJ's latest Charities Appeals Supplement has been published in this week’s issue
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