Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid clashed with a guest and laughed off their comments during a heated debate.
The ITV presenter disagreed with guest Ayesha Hazarika over Labour’s new flexible working law. The government’s Employment Rights Bill launched on Thursday (October 10) grants workers a right to flexible working.
Employers can refuse flexible working requests but be forced to explain the reason for refusal to the employee. Flexible working can include starting shifts later to take children to school or other childcare reasons, as well as working longer shifts over fewer days of the week.
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Ministers have unveiled the package, which will end controversial zero-hour contracts and establish rights to bereavement and parental leave from the day they start. Susanna and Scottish broadcaster Ayesha debated what it meant for female workers on Thursday’s show (October 10).
(Image: (Image: ITV))
Susanna had suggested the bill could, unintentionally, prevent female workers being hired in case they get pregnant. Ayesha declared: “That’s illegal if they do that, Susanna.
“That’s actually against the law.” Asked if it was still risky, Hazarika said: “No. I feel like that’s a really depressing argument to be promulgating.”
“I think in this day in age, the idea that we are still promulgating the argument that you better not hire a young woman because she might have a baby is absolutely ridiculous.” Susanna said: “Of course.
(Image: (Image: ITV))
“No one is promulgating that argument. What I’m suggesting is you might have a law of unintended consequences.”
Hazarika disagreed: “No. You are basically putting out an argument saying it’s fine to be a massive sexist pig and we all have to fight against that, Susanna.”
Susanna laughed at the accusation as she allowed Kwasi Kwarteng to continue with the debate. Good Morning Britain fans seemed to agree with Susanna on social media. One wrote: ” 100% correct @susannareid100 …… of course employers will consider employing women!! It’s not right but it is a FACT!!”
(Image: ITV1)
Another wrote: “Susanna 100% correct. Employees will stop hiring women ( well quite a lot will) just in case they get pregnant and then just say prove it. Another thing labour hadn’t thought through.”
A third fumed: “Ayesha of course employers will be metered from taking on young females because of maternity pay from day one. I don’t blame them and it’s the Labour who have caused this to happen. How the hell do you expect businesses to survive after all the initial training being wasted.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
