BRC responds to publication of Guaranteed Hours consultation

Responding to the publication of the Government's consultation on Guaranteed Hours, Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the BRC, said:

"With over a million young people out of work or education, government cannot afford to get this wrong. Crack down on bad employers by all means, but not by adding costs and rules that deter good employers from hiring in the first place. Retail is a lifeline into work for hundreds of thousands of young people each year. But if government piles on cost and risk, many of those entry-level jobs won't be there in future."

-ENDS- 

Notes:

• On reference periods: A reference period of 12 weeks would mean anyone working for three months will be entitled to a permanent contract. Given the seasonal nature of retail work, particularly in the run up to Christmas, anything below 26 weeks will give retailers little choice but to reduce the number of flexible roles during busier periods.
• On low hours: An eight-hour threshold would be reasonable, classifying contracts of up to 20 hours as 'low-hours' would be disproportionate and could force businesses to repeatedly offer permanent contracts to hundreds of thousands of workers.
• On notice for shift changes: Requiring up to four weeks' notice for shift changes would be out of step with the realities of retail.