UK policy-makers praise CIPD members' vital input in Employment Rights Bill

The CIPD was proud to co-host CIPD members at an exclusive House of Lords reception this week, alongside Lord Barber of Ainsdale and Justin Madders MP, the UK’s Employment Rights Minister.  We organised the event to thank members of our policy forum for their continued input to the evolving Employment Rights Bill – and give them an opportunity to engage directly with senior policy-makers.

Celebrating CIPD members’ crucial role in public policy development

But the event was more than just a ‘thank you’. It also served as a reminder of the crucial role the CIPD and its members play in influencing public policy and the respect and appreciation that policymakers have for our collective input. 

The CIPD policy forum is made up of senior HR professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to help us develop informed insights for policymakers about the real-life impact of employment policy in the UK’s workplaces. Over the past 12 months, this group – and wider CIPD member forums – have played a crucial role in feeding in the frontline views and insights of the people profession into government consultations about the proposed changes. As well as supporting our briefings to MPs and peers from all the major parties as the bill has been scrutinised during its passage through both houses of parliament.  

Our ongoing relationship with policymakers has led to this high-profile recognition of CIPD members as key stakeholders in the development of new employment legislation. 

Keeping HR expertise at the heart of workplace reforms 

The Employment Rights Bill represents the most significant overhaul of employment law in decades. Recognising that driving real change requires professional expertise, policymakers have engaged directly with the CIPD to inform key aspects of the bill – demonstrating how our members' professional standards and credibility enable them to influence policy, not just implement it.  

Over the past year, members of our policy forums and senior leaders’ network have been able to feed in the views and insights of the people profession into everything from government consultations and roundtables, to tripartite meetings with trade unions and employer organisations, and meetings with ministers, MPs and civil servants. 

This week’s reception gave members a valuable opportunity to engage directly with senior policy-makers.  

Lord Barber talked about the progress being made on the Employment Rights Bill, the sheer number of amendments that were discussed at the Lords committee stage, and his respect for the quality of insights CIPD members have provided.   

Justin Madders praised the tripartite collaboration between business, trade unions and government. He highlighted the critical role CIPD members play in helping shape the detail of the legislation – and emphasised the government’s commitment to collaborating with the CIPD to ensure government can get the detail of reforms right.