Following the landslide victory of The Labour Party in this year’s General Election, Britain can expect improved workers’ rights if the government succeed in their manifesto plans of strengthening workers’ rights. But what could this mean for workplace health and safety? Their manifesto outlines the following goals to which could positively impact health and safety.
The most notable is the Plan to Make Work Pay: Delivering A New Deal for Working People, which includes:
- A ban on zero-hour contracts – predictable hours can help to limit the stress/anxiety caused by lack of job stability and security of pay, limiting negative impact on employee mental wellbeing.
- The end to fire and rehire – reducing inconsistency in employment can promote a stronger safety culture through positive moral and commitment.
- An increase in flexible working hours – alongside reducing burnout and stress, flexible working where appropriate can promote adequate rest and recovery. Adequate rest is especially important for shift workers and reduces the rate of fatigue-related accidents in more dangerous industries like construction and engineering.
- A right to switch off – improving work-life balance and setting clear boundaries can help to reduce stress and burnout caused by overworking. This is even more prevalent as remote working has increased significantly because of the Covid-19 global pandemic, meaning the boundaries of home and office can be blurred, causing extended work and difficulty in switching off.
- Improved sick pay – prioritising health over work decreases the stress of those who require time off for recovery, also fostering a positive safety-first culture in the workplace. Adequate sick pay can limit danger in the workplace for employees suffering from impaired cognitive or physical abilities and those whose safety may be affected from working alongside them.
- Modernising the Health and Safety at Work Act – making worker’s rights clearer cut, with a focus on mental health not just physical to reflect improvements in mental health research since the act was introduced in 1974. Revising and updating safety standards to reflect current technologies. Strengthening the protections for whistleblowers to encourage reporting of unsafe practices.
- Increasing funding and powers of the Health and Safety Executive – increasing response to emerging risks, stricter regulation enforcement through enhanced inspections and audits, and offering more support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Whilst the model that the Labour Party wish to form is still unclear, all the above objectives aim to improve health and safety in the workplace, with an increased focus on mental health and wellbeing.
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