Poll shows broad support for employment reforms

Ahead of the King’s Speech, a TUC poll shows broad support for Labour’s proposed employment reforms, including a ban on zero hours contracts and making statutory sick pay available from the first day of sickness.

A wooden gavel resting on stacks of books on a desk in a library.

 

As the King’s Speech approaches, the TUC has published new polling which reveals widespread support for employment reforms proposed by Labour which include a ban on zero hours contracts.

The polling of more than 3,000 voters – conducted by Opinium on the day after the election – shows backing across the political spectrum for the reforms, including from Conservative and Reform voters.

The polling reveals: 

Real living wage

Three-quarters (77%) of 2024 voters support ensuring the national minimum wage rises to be a real living wage. This number rises to more than eight in 10 (85%) for Labour, Lib Dem (86%) and Green (86%) voters and is hugely popular among 2024 Conservative (71%) and Reform voters too (77%).  

Unfair dismissal

64% of all 2024 election voters support the day one right to protection from unfair dismissal – including eight in 10 (81%) Labour voters, large numbers of Green (79%) and Lib Dem voters (70%), and a majority of Conservative (55%) and Reform (57%) voters.  

Sick pay

Nearly seven in 10 voters (69%) back Labour’s plan to make statutory sick pay available from the first day of sickness – a number that rises to around 8 in 10 for Labour (80%), Lib Dem (79%) and Green (79%) voters with clear majority support from 2024 Conservative (60%) and Reform (69%) voters as well. 

Ban on fire and rehire

Two-thirds (66%) of voters support a ban on fire and rehire with large backing from 2024 Labour (78%), Conservative (63%), Reform (62%), Green (72%) and Liberal Dem (69%) voters. 

Ban on zero hours contracts

Nearly seven in 10 (67%) voters support banning zero-hours contracts by offering all workers a contract that reflects their normal hours of work and compensation for cancelled shifts. This policy enjoys clear majority support among 2024 Labour voters (76%), Conservative voters (67%), Reform voters (72%), Green voters (71%) and Liberal Democrat voters (69%). 

Over half (54%) of those polled by Opinium say their personal financial circumstances are getting worse. 

This number rises even higher for Labour (59%), Green (65%) and Reform (59%) voters – and even among Conservative voters, over a third (36%) say they feel they are getting worse off. 

Nearly six in 10 (59%) 2024 voters say the economy is getting worse – with only Conservative voters (61%) saying the economy is improving. 

Adam Drummond, Research Director and Partner at Opinium, said:  “There’s strong support for pro-worker policies we tested including living wage, unfair dismissal, sick pay, banning zero-hours contracts and banning the practice of fire and rehire. 

“Crucially this isn’t just among Labour voters, but typically also among supporters of other parties including the Conservatives and Reform.  

“While Labour is generally more trusted than distrusted when it comes to making working life better and being on the side of working people voters will need to see them deliver.” 


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