Consultation on one-sided flexibility issued
The government is seeking views on the issue of “one-sided flexibility” as part of its response to the Taylor review of modern working practices.
The review found that some employers were abusing flexible working arrangements through practices such as cancelling shifts at short notice or sending workers home when customer demand is low.
Following recommendations from the review, the government commissioned the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to provide advice on the prevalence of one-sided flexibility, the impact of introducing a higher minimum wage for non-guaranteed hours and alternative policy ideas to address the issue.
Among the evidence found by the LPC was that 49% of workers who are self-employed or in insecure work said their income changed either a fair amount or a great deal from one month to the next.
Some workers feared losing hours. In one case, union members described an instance of a manager reducing a worker’s hours after they phoned in sick because the manager did not believe them to be genuinely ill.
This consultation asks for views on the LPC proposals, particularly on giving workers a right to reasonable notice of work schedules and compensation for shifts cancelled without reasonable notice. It also seeks views on what guidance government can provide to support employers and encourage best practice.
The consultation closes on 11 October.