An EU Referendum is set for 2016…

How will an EU Referendum affect UK employees?

The Government has indicated that later this year we will have an ‘in or out’ referendum on our membership of the EU.

If the vote is to ‘opt out’ of Europe, it’s not likely to happen overnight. Exit rules state that countries have a minimum of two years to withdraw once the Government sets the date to formally leave the EU. We will most likely retain a relationship with the EU particularly regarding trading.

What UK employment rights come from Europe?

Actually most of the employment rights we have today either come from European directives or are covered by them. Some of these include:

• A minimum period of paid annual leave
• Protection from discrimination
• Regular rest breaks
• Working time regulations

If we withdraw, can UK employers ignore these employment rights?

Certainly nothing will change until the Government finalises the terms of exit so employers will have to continue to follow current legislation. In the future the legislation may be tweaked, but the employment laws we follow are so ingrained that it’s hard to believe they will change or be removed completely.

What are the implications for people who travel and work outside the UK?

If we leave the EU, you won’t have an automatic right to travel and work outside of the UK. UK businesses would also not be able to freely recruit staff from the EU, which may cause problems for some businesses. If we withdraw from Europe, those wishing to work in the UK may have to satisfy immigration controls imposed by the Government and likewise, UK citizens who want to work in the EU.

No doubt the debate will continue for quite some time and the results will be interesting for both employees and employers alike.

The Recruiting Times has the full article on this issue – follow this link to read it.

In the meantime, Premier Placement Services continues to place hundreds of jobs daily, so if you’re looking for work please get in touch or take a look at our on-line job search.