header-logo header-logo

One-sided flexibility: redressing the balance

03 October 2019 / Charles Pigott
Issue: 7858 / Categories: Features , Employment , EU
printer mail-detail
The government’s plans to tackle one-sided flexibility in the labour market march in step with Europe… for now. Charles Pigott reports
  • The government has published a consultation paper on measures to address ‘one-sided flexibility’ in the labour market.
  • This follows the launch of the Living Hours Standard by the Living Wage Foundation and coincides with the publication of a new EU Directive on ‘transparent and predictable’ working conditions.

One-sided flexibility—a requirement for a worker to be available for work at very short notice, without a guarantee that any work will be available—was one of the issues addressed in the Taylor review. The review was commissioned by Theresa May soon after she become prime minister and published in July 2017 (see Good work: the Taylor review of modern working practices).

The Taylor review interpreted its brief broadly, which resulted in a focus not just on new forms of labour such as gig work, but on ‘good work’ in general. That said, it had long been a preoccupation of

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
back-to-top-scroll