Freshwater backs ideas for stronger employment rights with pro bono work for IER

Freshwater is providing three months of pro bono PR support to the trade union think tank, the Institute of Employment Rights (IER), to help raise awareness of its expert analysis to strengthen the Employment Rights Bill as it passes through parliament.

The Bill, proposed as part of efforts to improve workers’ rights, introduces key reforms such as banning exploitative zero-hours contracts, banning fire & rehire, strengthening protections against unfair dismissal and ensuring flexible working rights from day one.

However, the IER argues that the Bill falls short of international labour standards and leaves significant gaps in worker protections. It is keen to inform policy change to amend some of these shortcomings before it becomes law.

With a long history of delivering marketing and communications for social justice law firms and trade unions—including NASUWT and Unite the Union – Freshwater is well-placed to support the IER in amplifying its messaging, raising awareness of the Bill’s limitations, including weak enforcement mechanisms, limited dismissal protections and inadequate collective bargaining rights.

Carolyn Pugsley, director of Freshwater, said: “At Freshwater, we believe in using our expertise to help drive positive change and make it matter for our clients and wider society.

“Supporting the work of the IER aligns with our long-standing commitment to social justice, and dovetails well with our existing projects with some of the UK’s largest trade unions.

“We hope our collaboration with the IER will help to bring attention to the urgent need to strengthen the Employment Rights Bill so that workers’ rights are fully protected from day one.”

James Harrison, director of the IER, said: “It’s great to have Freshwater on board to help us drive awareness at this critical stage in the Bill’s journey.

“The Employment Rights Bill is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore workers’ rights and rebalance the power relationship between workers and employers. While a step in the right direction, the Bill is not as robust as it needs to be to withstand aggressive employer lobbying to water the Bill down throughout the legislative process.

“We need to act now to make sure that we strengthen the loopholes that exist and protect workers’ rights now and into the future.”

To learn more about the IER’s work around strengthening the Employment Rights Bill, visit the Institute of Employment Rights’ website.