Bosses told they will have to make sure staff are happy when redundancy is on the cards

-

Companies may have to assess the psychological health of their staff when considering redundancies under EU plans.
The new directive would also force bosses to examine the impact of job cuts on the community.

But the proposals have angered business leaders already struggling to keep up with regulation and red tape from Europe.

Tory MP David Nuttall said: ‘The last thing the British economy needs is more interference from Brussels.

‘This is a time when we want to be doing everything we can to remove the burdens on our businesses so they are free to make some profits, grow and hopefully create jobs.’

Get our essential weekday HR news and updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Keep up with the latest in HR...
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Optin_date
This field is hidden when viewing the form

 

Tim Thomas, the head of employment policy at the manufacturing industry body EEF, told the Daily Express: ‘The UK is trying to overhaul employment law, but faces constant tinkering from the EU.

‘Under these proposals, employers will have to negotiate with unions over redundancies in a way they don’t at the moment.’

The plans, drawn up by Spanish socialist MEP Alejandro Cercas, go against a report commissioned by the UK Government that urges ministers to introduce a ‘no-fault dismissal’ rule to make it easier for firms to sack staff.

They have emerged in a European Parliament employment and social affairs committee document, which proposes that ‘companies shall monitor…the psycho-social health of employees affected by restructuring processes.’

It adds: ‘Companies shall create tools for the regular evaluation and reporting on their restructuring practices, in co-operation with employees’ representatives and the external organisations involved in that process.’

The parliament is set to vote on it in November.

The latest proposals come after an EU law was passed extending the right of women on maternity leave to have full pay for 20 weeks.

Businesses say the changes could cost companies £100million a year

Latest news

Personalising the Benefits Experience: Why Employees Need More Than Just Information

This article explores how organisations can move beyond passive, one-size-fits-all communication to deliver relevant, timely, and simplified benefits experiences that reflect employee needs and life stages.

Grant Wyatt: When the love dies – when staying is riskier than quitting

When people fall out of love with their employer, or feel their employer has fallen out of love with them, what follows is rarely a clean exit.

£30bn pension savings window opens for employers ahead of 2029 reforms

UK employers could unlock billions in National Insurance savings by expanding pension salary sacrifice schemes before new limits take effect in 2029.

Expat jobs ‘fail early as costs hit $79,000 per worker’

International assignments are ending early due to family strain, isolation and poor preparation, as rising costs increase pressure on employers.
- Advertisement -

The Great Employer Divide: What the evidence shows about employers that back parents and carers — and those that don’t

Understand the growing divide between organisations that effectively support working parents and carers — and those that don’t. This session shows how to turn employee experience data into a clear business case, linking care-related pressures to performance, retention and workforce stability.

Scott Mills exit puts spotlight on risk of ‘news vacuum’ in high-profile dismissals

Sudden departure of a long-serving BBC presenter raises questions about how employers manage high-profile dismissals and limit speculation.

Must read

Paul Holland: Digital dependence: connecting vulnerable and disparate people

"Not only should data and data sharing be secure, but an organisation’s handling of said data should also be transparent."

Heather Gille: 3 ways to beat the Great Resignation

HR specialist, Heather Gille, says the Great Resignation is here to stay but there are three simple and easy-to-implement ways to get ahead of it.
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you