New polling for IPPR, the TUC and Persuasion UK by Opinium has found that a clear majority of employers support stronger rights for workers, including specific policies announced by the government.
Two-thirds (68 per cent) of senior decision-makers and middle managers, including six in 10 (61 per cent) small businesses, believe that the rights of ordinary workers should be stronger.
The results suggest that amongst those making decisions within businesses and engaging with workers, support for the government’s plans is high:
Job security: Six in 10 (60 per cent) said that employees should have more security at work, compared to just 3 per cent who think they should have less.
Workforce health: Seven in 10 (75 per cent) think that strengthened employment rights will improve employee health, compared to just 4 per cent who disagree.
Retention: Seven in 10 (74 per cent) believe that strengthening employment rights will improve workforce retention, compared to just 6 per cent who do not.
Productivity: Seven in 10 (73 per cent) say strengthened employment rights will boost productivity, compared to just 7 per cent who disagree.
Profitability: Six in 10 (61 per cent) think stronger employment rights will have a positive impact on business profitability, compared to fewer than two in 10 (17 per cent) who disagree.
Employer support for stronger workers’ rights is not premised on a general lack of understanding or knowledge of the government’s proposed changes. Most (69 per cent) businesses are aware of Labour’s ‘new deal for working people’ and the polling found that an overwhelming majority (75 per cent) support the measures, including nearly seven in 10 (69 per cent) of small businesses. Only 17 per cent of employers oppose the policies. The polling also found that support among employers for stronger employment rights increased once they were told about the full detail of the government’s proposals.
Most employers strongly or somewhat support (73 per cent) giving employees protection from unfair dismissal from the first day of employment, known as ‘day one rights’, compared to a small minority (13 per cent) who opposed the measure. A majority of employers (74 per cent) also support giving employees access to sick pay from day one (compared to 12 per cent who oppose the idea).
Dr George Dibb, associate director for economic policy at IPPR, commenting on the poll results said: “We know that having a happy, healthy, motivated, and productive workforce is good for employees but it’s also fundamental for the bottom line of a business. This polling shows employers, large and small, recognise this, and overwhelmingly support stronger rights for their workers.
“Most employers believe that the government’s employment rights policies will have a positive effect on productivity and investment, as well as on the profitability of their business.
“The UK economy must break out of the low-productivity, low-investment trap that we’re currently in and stronger baseline of workers’ rights is an essential part.”