The EU referendum is on everyone’s minds, and whichever way you voted it’s clear that the UK is now going through a period of great uncertainty. With the national economy and currency on the line, many people are understandably concerned about what the Brexit result and its future consequences could mean for their jobs.
A recent article in the Mirror spoke to some employment experts to find out what’s at risk of being changed, and what we can be positive about – so we pulled out the facts to share with you. Here’s what to do now…
If you have a job…
Employment law solicitor Aneil Balgobin explains that while employers and businesses may have been preparing themselves for this result, employees are less likely to have done so. The best thing they can do now is to consult their employment contract and remind themselves of the most relevant sections, “such as restrictive covenants and redundancy terms.”
If you’re looking for a job…
Employees who are in something of a limbo situation – for example, having just chosen to leave their existing employer for a company that might now be getting nervous about taking on more staff – should seek legal advice about their new job offer, says Balgobin.
Which employment rights could come under threat?
Martin Chitty, an employment partner at Gowling WLG, says that there are three areas to consider in regards to employment. Firstly, rights with no EU element will not change – these include unfair dismissals and discrimination on grounds of sex, race, relationship status, nationality and ethnicity.
Secondly, rights that are based on EU policy but enacted in the UK “are unlikely to be removed, but may get watered down.”
And finally, there are some rights that are solely EU-based and therefore at risk of being removed – these include some Working Time Regulations; collective consultation; equal treatment for agency workers; and redundancy rights.
And what’s the good news?
An economist at global job site Indeed, Mariano Mamertino, reminds us that some employers who held back on hiring during the referendum process may now begin their recruitment processes again.
Doug Monro – the co-founder of job site Adzuna – also asserted that while there are some risks, the leaving process could take years – if indeed it goes ahead at all. Meanwhile, the UK has “a strong, open economy with a thriving tech sector,” and the possibility of an Australian-style points system could bring more skilled immigrants to the UK, helping to fill the skills gap in industries such as science and engineering.
For more advice about finding the right job during this uncertain time, get in touch with us here at Lucy Bristow.
Image: June-2016_0005 by Ed Everett under the (CC by 2.0) license
