The Employment Rights Act 2025 Is Here – Preparation Starts Now

After much speculation, the Employment Rights Bill finally passed on 16 December, has just received Royal Assent.  It is now the Employment Rights Act 2025.

While some of the headline changes don’t take effect until 2026, the smart move is to review your practices and policies sooner rather than later.

So, a quick recap on some of the provisions and what is changing:

–           Statutory Sick Pay – no more 3-day waiting period (from April 2026)

• Unfair dismissal protection starts at 6 months (not 2 years)
• Stronger workplace harassment protections
• “Fire and rehire” restricted
• Immediate rights to paternity and parental leave from day one
• Ban on most exploitative zero-hours contracts
• Stronger rules on shift cancellations and guaranteed hours
• Expanded rights for trade unions – more facility time, fewer strike restrictions
  
  
  

The government has committed to publishing an impact assessment on the impact of removing the unfair dismissal compensation cap before implementing the unfair dismissal sections of the new Act, so we will have to wait until next year for this.  However, starting the new year on the right foot is always a good idea. 

If you would like to book in for a review in early 2026, contact us now.