Yesterday, government published a package of analysis to inform its consultation on the implementation of the guaranteed hours and shift rights provisions. The analysis assesses the potential costs and benefits of different policy options and provides indicative estimates of the overall impact of the reforms.
Government estimates that the direct cost to employers could range any modelling, impact assessments or cost estimates your business has undertaken.is, the largest drivers of cost are the hours thresholds for eligibility, notice periods for shifts, and compensation requirements for cancelled or changed shifts.
Government also recognises that impacts will depend significantly on the final policy positions and that there remains uncertainty about how employers may adapt their workforce planning and scheduling practices in response.
The BRC responded to the publication highlighting concerns with the cumulative impact of rising employment costs on retailers and urging government to ensure regulations are targeted at genuinely insecure work, warning that additional costs could limit job creation and reduce the availability of flexible roles that many workers value.
Provide feedback to our draft response
Earlier this week, we’ve published our draft response to the consultation (find it here), and we’re seeking member views on the draft by 18 August.
In particular, we are keen to understand if the assumptions in government’s assessment reflect your operational realities and whether the estimated impacts truly reflect potential impacts on workforce planning, flexibility and business costs. We welcome any modelling, impact assessments or cost estimates your business has undertaken and views on where assumptions don’t align with your business experience/cost estimates.
As always, any feedback, examples or data shared with the BRC will be anonymised before being incorporated into our response. We are keen to substance our response on strong evidence to inform discussions with government.
