when should workers gain full employment rights?

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

One of the Labour party’s most striking election pledges affecting businesses was to introduce basic individual rights from the very first day of a worker’s employment — scrapping the existing two-year qualifying period for protection against some forms of unfair dismissal.

This promise made up part of a package of employment reforms which Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called “the biggest levelling up of workers’ rights in a generation”.

But this week Whitehall figures told the Financial Times that the legislation would in fact permit companies to keep employees under probation for up to six months. “It’s a decent compromise after a lot of back and forth,” said one of the ministers steering the bill. The government refused to comment.

Some employers argue that establishing stronger employment rights sooner would make them more cautious about taking on new staff, according to a CBI survey.

However, others argue the greater stability for new employees may make staff more willing to move companies, as they won’t need to forgo rights for a period of time in order to make the switch.

So what do you think: when should workers gain full employment rights? After day one? Six months or longer? Tell us your view by voting in our poll or commenting below the line.