As a new government takes power, The HR World lined up three specialists to discuss the implications for HR and the world of work. Hannah Waddington, Managing Director – Maru Search & Consultancy, Anna Elliott, Partner – Osborne Clarke and Alice Spicer Edwards, Senior Associate – Osborne Clarke gave their views from legal and people perspectives on Sir Kier Starmer and his teams’ plans.

Sponsored by both Osborne Clarke and Maru Search & Consultancy, the panel explored how the exact timetable and impact of the manifesto will emerge over time, discussing changes in employment law, in workplace practices, in the use of AI and technology and the resulting impact on the wider economy.

The discussion delved into the proposed changes in as much detail as possible, noting that in some cases such changes would also require secondary legislation and therefore take longer to be enacted than others. Overall there was a clear sense of HR needing to maintain awareness of the changes, to be ahead of the game in order to ensure systems and processes were ready to match the government’s intent. Alongside this, there was a sense that businesses could find themselves needing to address issues such as their own diversity and equality as measures such and the Gender Pay Gap become a statutory requirement. Businesses may also need to address their workplace culture if ideas such as there right to ‘switch off’ (not be contacted outside working hours) become legally enforceable.

Skills were also high on the agenda with changes to the Apprenticeship Levy highlighted as the government seeks to address the skills gaps which exist across the economy. The hope here is that by ensuring those skills exist the economy will have more chance to grow and people to prosper.

While the government has stated its intention to bring some legislation forward within the first 100 days of power, businesses and HR will not be faced with a sudden switch into Labour’s new ideas. Instead change in most areas will be gradual, enabling employers to adapt and implement the steps necessary to meet the new government’s vision.

Read our Q&A: Election Special for the follow up discussion.