Employment Rights Bill – Consideration of Lords’ Amendments

The Bill passed its Third Reading in the House of Lords and returned to the Commons for consideration on the Lords’ amendments on 15 September 2025. As I chaired the Bill Committee I was unable to vote. There were 12 amendments selected for debates and votes:

Lords Amendment 1, imposes a duty on employers to offer a guaranteed hours contract after being requested by an employee. Motion to disagree passed:  Ayes 326 Noes 160.

Lords Amendment 8, sets the period of short notice for the purpose of payment for short notice shift cancellations at 48 hours. Motion to disagree passed: Ayes 316 Noes 172.

Lords Amendment 7, removes the employer’s duty to make a short notice payment where they provide the worker with more notice of a cancellation of 48 hours or more. Motion to disagree passed:  Ayes 330 Noes 158.

Lords Amendment 23, removes the day-one unfair dismissal right and replace it with a six-month qualifying period. Motion to disagree passed: Ayes 329 Noes 163.

Lords Amendment 46, requires the Government to create regulations extending unfair dismissal protection for whistleblowers and impose a new duty on employers to investigate protected disclosures. Motion to disagree passed: Ayes 314 Noes 178.

Lords Amendment 47, extends the current right to be accompanied to meetings to include a certified professional companion. Motion to disagree passed: Ayes 327 Noes 164.

Lords Amendment 48, create a legal definition for seasonal work. Motion to disagree passed: Ayes 328 Noes 160.

Lords Amendment 49, requires the Secretary of State to initiate a consultation on Part 1 of the Bill and report to the House of Commons and Lords within 18 weeks of that initiation. Motion to disagree passed: Ayes 332 Noes 160.

Lords Amendment 60, amends restrictions on the employment of young people in industrial settings to allow them work on heritage railways or heritage tramways. Motion to disagree passed: Ayes 318 Noes 170.

Lords Amendment 61, re-establishes the requirement for trade unions to opt out their members from contributions to the political fund, where the union has one, unless a member expressly requests to opt in. Motion to disagree passed:  Ayes 330, Noes 161.

Lords Amendment 62, retains the requirement for trade unions to meet a 50% turnout threshold of those entitled to vote in a ballot. Motion to disagree passed:  Ayes 330, Noes 161.

Lords Amendment 121, which duplicates the effect of proposed new section 148M which would allow school support staff employers  to employ their staff on equal or better terms and conditions than statutory minimums set by the School Support Staff Negotiating Body. Motion to disagree passed: Ayes 316, Noes 161.

The Bill will return to the House of Lords for consideration of the Commons votes.