Shares for workers' rights – why entrepreneurial firms need employment law too

Under the government’s current proposals for employment law reform, employees will be able to give up rights concerning unfair dismissal, redundancy pay, flexible working and time off for training in return for receiving shares in the company that employs them, gains on which will be exempt from capital gains tax. Simon Deakin asks if It is right for the government to be encouraging worker ownership in companies? There is abundant evidence suggesting this improves labour productivity. What is completely unnecessary and counterproductive is to link this to the loss of employment protection rights.