Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Latest NewsInformation & consultationTrade unionsEmployment contracts

MPs block ‘fire and rehire’ Bill

by Ashleigh Webber 22 Oct 2021
by Ashleigh Webber 22 Oct 2021 David Whinham / Alamy Stock Photo
David Whinham / Alamy Stock Photo

MPs have blocked the ‘fire and rehire’ Bill that would have prevented companies from dismissing staff and re-engaging them on less favourable conditions and pay.

The Bill, put forward by Labour MP Barry Gardiner, would have stopped employers from using the practice unless employees were properly consulted first.

However, the Bill failed to get support by 188 votes to 251 after Conservative MPs were urged not to back it.

Introducing the Bill in Parliament today (22 October), Gardiner said it would not outright ban fire and rehire tactics as they might be necessary to prevent a company from collapsing, for example.

Gardiner told MPs: “It encourages both employers and workers to reach the best outcome and discourages bad employers from threatening fire and rehire, where there is not a legitimate threat to the business that demands it.”

However, business minister Paul Scully said that the government did not believe primary legislation was needed to stamp out the unscrupulous practice.

Fire and rehire

Centrica boss: ‘firms need way to change terms and conditions’

One in 10 threatened to be ‘fired and rehired’

Unions and MPs urge action on ‘fire and rehire’

“The unambiguous message is that bully-boy tactics of fire and rehire, for use as a negotiating tactic, is absolutely inappropriate,” he said. “However, I do not believe that this bill as it stands – even if it’s amended, as I do not believe we need that primary legislation to achieve its ends – will actually have the effect.

“What we need to do is make sure that we can address these situations. We’ll legislate if we need to, but we’ll do it as a last resort, not as a first resort.”

The TUC described fire and rehire as a “national scandal” and said that by failing to approve the Bill, the government has “chosen to side with bad bosses”.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady tweeted: “This is just plain wrong! No one should be forced to reapply for their jobs on worse terms and conditions. The government has sided today with bad employers.”

Sharon Graham, the general secretary at the Unite union, said: “The antics of the Conservative party today have been a disgrace.  They have colluded to stand on the side of bullying bosses and against the interests of workers, showing their real colours. So the hypocrisy of the Tory party was on full display for all to see.”

The controversial practice of dismissing staff and rehiring them on worse terms and pay has attracted significant attention over recent years, with household names including British Gas, Weetabix and Clarks involved in disputes with unions over its use.

Earlier this year, the boss of British Gas owner Centrica told the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee that businesses needed a way of changing employees’ terms and conditions.

Acas published evidence on the use of fire and rehire in response to concerns about the practice.

HR Director opportunities on Personnel Today


Browse more HR director jobs

Ashleigh Webber
Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is editor at OHW+ and HR and wellbeing editor at Personnel Today. Ashleigh's areas of interest include employee health and wellbeing, equality and inclusion and skills development. She has hosted many webinars for Personnel Today, on topics including employee retention, financial wellbeing and menopause support. Prior to joining Personnel Today in 2018, she covered the road transport sector for Commercial Motor and Motor Transport magazines, touching on some of the employment and wellbeing issues experienced by those in road haulage.

previous post
Third of contractors have left self-employment ‘when firms need them most’
next post
Green jobs plan needs more clarity, say MPs

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Zero-hours contract benefits ‘can outweigh negatives for workers’

11 Aug 2022

Ministers release guidance to clarify UK employment status...

28 Jul 2022

Harpur Trust v Brazel: Your holiday pay questions...

27 Jul 2022

Court of Appeal overturns Tesco ‘fire and rehire’...

15 Jul 2022

One in nine UK workers is in insecure...

12 Jul 2022

Should employers pay for restrictive covenants?

8 Jul 2022

Employment law changes for 2022 and beyond: update...

1 Jul 2022

Bolt drivers strike as union launches workers’ rights...

15 Jun 2022

Care workers to strike over ‘cruel’ fire and...

10 Jun 2022

Tesco appeal against fire and rehire ban to...

8 Jun 2022
  • 6 reasons why work-based learning is better than traditional training PROMOTED | A recent Fortune/Deloitte survey found that 71% of CEOs are anticipating that this year’s biggest business disrupter...Read more
  • Strengthening Scotland’s public services through virtual recruiting PROMOTED | This website is Scotland's go-to place for job seekers looking to apply for roles in public services...Read more
  • What’s next for L&D? Enter Alchemist… PROMOTED | It’s time to turn off the tedious and get ready for interactive and immersive learning experiences...Read more
  • Simple mistakes are blighting the onboarding experience PROMOTED | The onboarding of new hires is a company’s best chance...Read more
  • Preventing Burnout: How can HR help key workers get the right help? PROMOTED | Workplace wellbeing may seem a distant memory...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+