BUSINESS Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has denied a rift with Deputy PM Angela Rayner — but said the Government will resist giving firms a set timeframe for workers’ rights over probation.
The fudge comes as Labour sets itself a 100-day deadline to reveal its radical reforms for staff in an employment bill linked to its “Make Work Pay” manifesto pledges.
The changes target “zero-hours” contracts, probationary periods, giving employees rights from day one and default flexible working.
There had been reports that after tensions between Mr Reynolds and Ms Rayner on probationary periods, the two were planning to allow companies to keep new staff on probation for six months.
Mr Reynolds told The Sun in an exclusive interview in Manchester the bill will include a “maximum period” for probation, but this will be consulted on with firms after it is set out by October 12.
He said: “We’ll consult on the timescales because it’s a very variable practice.
“I mean some jobs see probation periods for a month, for some it’s a year.”
And he claimed: “Honestly, there is no disagreement between me and Angela.”
But the Secretary of State did imply he was not as swayed by union demands.
He said: “I’m the voice of business in the Cabinet.
“I have a lot of information, more so than other colleagues, about what businesses are facing.
“So I always feel my role is to put that across.”
Mr Reynolds acknowledged probationary periods were a “huge part” of Labour’s plans to give workers full rights from “day one”, rather than the current two years.
Any change to probation will be a big shift, from firms setting their own staff contract terms to a statutory obligation.
He said he realised companies needed probationary periods at the beginning of employment because “sometimes it doesn’t work out on both sides”.
He explained: “Do companies need a different process at the beginning? Yes — I totally understand that.”
Companies have raised concerns that making probationary periods too short will lead to them taking fewer chances on hiring.
One chief executive warned it could see a regression to “bosses hiring people who are just like them because that will seem less risky”.
The Business Secretary had a call with business groups on Wednesday over proposed changes to zero-hour contracts.
Around 40 per cent of small hospitality firms use them and say having a flexible workforce is essential.
Mr Reynolds said people who work regularly for a company should have the “right to a contract that reflects that”.
He said in cases where companies cancelled shifts at the last minute and denied workers’ earnings, there was “too much risk on the individual”.
The Government yesterday announced a crackdown on late payments to small businesses, which those firms welcomed as solving a huge cash crunch issue.
However, they are nervous about the worker changes and have warned they do not have the same HR departments or budgets for the bureaucracy.
Mr Reynolds scotched hopes there would be different thresholds for small firms when considering employee rights, as there is on VAT or business rates.
The Business Secretary said having a two-tier system would only increase complexity and could stifle firms’ ambitions to grow beyond thresholds.
He said: “If you think about the VAT threshold, businesses don’t want to grow past it.
“The principle has always been employment law is universal. It’s not dependent on the size of business you work for.”
The Government is also pushing to make flexible working the default — just as Amazon this week ordered staff back to the office five days a week.
Mr Reynolds said “I’m not mandating anything to anyone. I want flexible working to be made available to a bigger group of people.
“There will be times where it’s not the right thing. I mean, I was a trainee solicitor here in Manchester.
“You learn from being around other people. You need people in the office.
“But sometimes you need a little bit of flexibility to balance what’s going on in the rest of your life.
“If you have some of those arrangements in place, and you’re opening yourself up to a bigger group of talent, that’s got to be a good thing for your business.”
LOWER prices have lured shoppers back to Ocado, as the online grocer boosted its sales expectations for the year.
Ocado Retail, a joint venture between Marks & Spencer and the Ocado tech group, saw a 15.5 per cent rise in third- quarter sales to £658million.
Selling prices at Ocado fell by 0.2 per cent, compared with food inflation of 2 per cent.
The service now has one million customers, up 10.3 per cent from this time last year, a sign shoppers have switched back from cheaper rivals.
Analysts say the easing off of working from home helped, as shoppers have less time to do a big in-person shop.
Ocado is delivering 437,000 orders a week compared with 381,000 a year ago, and market research group Kantar says it is the fastest-growing grocer.
Ocado Retail boss Hannah Gibson said it now offers customers a greater variety of products and M&S food.
THE “lipstick effect” is alive and well amid a beauty boom.
The trend describes a rise in spending on smaller luxuries when shoppers have less cash to spend on pricier treats.
While a quarter of shoppers have cut back on clothes and accessories, half still say health and beauty purchases are “essential”, research from Barclays shows.
But a third of Brits are still switching to “perfume dupes” to save cash spent on scent.
THE boss of Next has warned the Government it would be a “mistake to use one rule for all professions” in its workers’ reforms.
Lord Wolfson, chief executive of the FTSE 100 retailer, told The Sun his verdict on the shake-up rested on the details of day one rights, probation and flexible working.
He said the push to make working from home a default option misunderstood the different ranges of jobs.
“There are a lot of roles where you can work from home,” he said.
“But there are others where teams need to get together to look at the quality and fit of clothes.
“It would be an enormous mistake to use one rule for all professions.”
His comments came as Next, which is targeting £1billion profits this year, warned that losing a recent £30million equal pay case could mean store closures.
An employment tribunal ruled last month its mostly female shop workers should be paid the same as largely male warehouse workers.
Next, which is appealing against the ruling, said the cost rise meant some stores would “no longer be viable”.
MANCHESTER UNITED have been given a double boost with Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount both ready to return.
But Erik ten Hag will not be rushing anyone back into the first-team now that he has a fully-fit squad.
The Red Devils boss admitted he was forced to play some of his stars too much and others when they were only “20 per cent” fit.
Ten Hag said: “Last season we didn’t have a fit squad. From February on we had to find 11 players every time to construct a team.
“We had to overload them. In top football you always go to boundaries.
“It’s not avoidable — but when you have a full squad available it’s easier to manage the load.
“We hope we can integrate them in a very careful way.”
Ten Hag says he will make a late call whether to include the pair in the squad for Saturday’s tea-time visit to Crystal Palace.
Danish striker Hojlund, 21, has been out of action since suffering a hamstring injury on the pre-season tour.
Mount’s first season at United was ruined by injury and he received another setback in just the second Premier League game of this season — also with a hamstring issue.
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But the pair have been pictured in full training at Carrington this week.
Ten Hag said: “It’s very good news they are back on the pitch, they are back in gym training.
“We have to decide if they are fit enough to start but it is pleasing they are back, we have many games in this block.”
The injuries which plagued Ten Hag’s team last term resulted in the club’s all-time Premier League low position of eighth.
He also blamed them for the 4-0 drubbing away at Selhurst Park last May.
Ten Hag said: “We know it is always tough there.
“We had two players just up to 20 per cent to play — this time it is different.”
He goes into the game not just with players fit again but full of confidence, like Marcus Rashford, 26, who has three goals in his last two games.
Ten Hag said: “It’s good for the team, strengthens their belief and they will go for more goals.”
MARCUS RASHFORD scored his first Premier League goal in 189 days as Manchester United cruised to a 3-0 victory at Southampton.
The Red Devils got back to winning ways after suffering defeats in their last two Prem games, with Matthijs de Ligt notching his first Man Utd goal.
But United had Andre Onana to thank as the keeper kept out Cameron Archer’s penalty at 0-0.
Here’s how SunSport’s Charlie Wyett rated United’s stars…
Andre Onana – 7
Saved the penalty by Cameron Archer, albeit a poor one from the Southampton forward.
But that stop and the stopped rebound proved to be absolutely crucial.
Noussair Mazraouri – 7
Needed treatment after falling awkwardly in the first half but that did not stop him from delivering a solid performance.
Also got forward to good effect before being one of three United defenders to be subbed off.
Matthijs De Ligt – 8
Shaky start defensively but was unmarked to score from Bruno Fernandes cross to calm United’s nerves with the opener.
He was delighted to get his first United goal and dedicated his celebration to his wife’s birthday today.
Lisandro Martinez – 7
Not been in great form so anything was an improvement – although Saints’ attack was toothless.
Diogo Dalot – 5
Suffered an absolute shocker of a first half courtesy of Southampton’s tricky wingers.
Conceded the penalty after bringing down Tyler Dibling but was also constantly exposed throughout the half.
Kobbie Mainoo – 6
United continue to lean far too heavily on such a young player. And this defensive role does not really suit him.
Christian Eriksen – 7
A surprise starter although United’s two goals came from his corners.
The system, though, still does not play to his strengths as he is too deep.
Bruno Fernandes – 7
Cracking corner cross ball from Eriksen who plonked the ball on the head of De Ligt.
Amad Diallo – 7
Looked lively throughout – really encouraging. Teed up Rashford for the second goal.
Joshua Zirkzee – 6
Forced a couple of saves by Aaron Ramsdale but does not look like a 25 goal-a-season striker.
Marcus Rashford – 7
Hopefully the second goal will give him a real confidence boost. Also forced a couple of saves from Aaron Ramsdale.
SUBS
Garnacho (for Rashford 73 mins) 7
Was brutally fouled by Stephens who saw red shortly after coming on. Notched United’s third goal of the game in the final minute.
He struck high into Ramsdale’s high corner after a brilliant ball from Casemiro.
Manuel Ugarte (for Eriksen 73 mins) 6
Harry Maguire (for Mazraouri 74 mins) 6
Jonny Evans (for Martinez 77 mins) 6
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