Did you know that if your organisation has 50 or more employees they have certain rights to be informed and consulted about issues at work.
For example:
Employees must:
- be told about plans and decisions,
- be consulted, e.g. give their opinion on changes in working conditions,
- ask for a formal agreement that sets out the process.
The request for a formal agreement must be made by at least 15 employees or 10% of employees, whichever number is greater.
And:
If a formal agreement exists, employers must inform and consult employees about:
- the economic situation of the business,
- job prospects,
- major changes in how work is organised.
Even if there isn’t a formal agreement, employers must inform and consult employees about:
- plans to sell the business or buy a new one,
- certain changes to an occupational or personal pension scheme,
- 20 or more redundancies in any 90-day period at any single place of work.
Employers must start negotiations no later than 3 months after a valid request has been made. Negotiations can last for up to 6 months and can only be extended if both the employer and employee representatives agree.
The employer and employee representatives decide the issues to be covered by the agreement. But it must cover all the employees in the organisation.
Additionally, employers must negotiate a new agreement if 40% or more of the workforce asks for an existing agreement to be changed. Employers can hold a ballot to see if the employees support a request to change an agreement if more than 10% but less than 40% make the request.
Information regarding these issues and other rights at work matters can be viewed at https://www.gov.uk/informing-consulting-employees-law
Comments are closed.