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ARTICLE · 01 FEBRUARY 2023

New Draft Code In Wake Of P&O Fire & Rehire

Herrington Carmichael LLP
Herrington Carmichael LLP
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Herrington Carmichael LLP

Herrington Carmichael LLP

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On 24 January 2023, the government has published a draft Statutory Code of Practice on the "Dismissal and Re-engagement" (the Code) of employees.

United KingdomEmployment and HR
Tom Hyatt
Tom Hyatt
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Draft Statutory Code of Practice – Dismissal and Re-Engagement – In More Detail

On 24 January 2023, the government has published a draft Statutory Code of Practice on the “Dismissal and Re-engagement” (the Code) of employees. The Code remains in draft and under consultation which is due to close on 18 April 2023. The Code has been prepared following significant pressure being put on the government regarding “fire and rehire” practices following the wide scale dismissals of P&O Ferries (P&O) employees last year.

The P&O Ferries “Redundancies”

On 17 March 2022, P&O terminated approximately 800 employees without notice, replacing them with cheaper agency workers. The employees were told, via video recording, that they were to be dismissed with immediate effect, to secure the company's survival.

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