The Employment Rights Bill is a major piece of legislation which significantly overhauls worker’s rights. It is currently making its way through Parliament and is expected to become law this year.
It proposes extensive reform to workers’ rights including rights relating to:
- Unfair Dismissal (making these a day one right)
- Collective Redundancy Consultation (introducing new triggers for collective consultation and enhanced protective awards)
- Fire and Rehire Practices (restricting its use in most cases)
- Flexible Working (tightening requirements to ensure employers act reasonably)
- Sexual Harassment/Third Party Harassment (introducing new obligations to safeguard employees)
- Statutory Sick Pay (removing the waiting days and the lower earnings limit)
- Zero Hour/Low Hour and Agency Workers (giving them the right to a guaranteed hours contract and reasonable notice of shifts and compensation for shifts curtailed, cancelled or moved at short notice)
- Family Leave (expanding the existing parental bereavement leave to cover other relationships and making paternity and unpaid parental leave a day one right)
- Pregnant employees and those taking maternity leave (offering enhanced protection)
- Whistleblowing (making clear that sexual harassment is a protected disclosure)
- Trade Unions (including lower thresholds for industrial action and statutory recognition ballots and a right of access for unions in the workplace)
- Equality reporting (expanding reporting duties on large employers)
It is a huge change and many employers are finding it daunting knowing what to do now to prepare. Some provisions will be coming into force very shortly after the Bill passes, whilst others will be coming into force over 2026/2027. Taking preparatory steps now is essential, especially given the complexity of some of the new requirements, and many organisations have already started taking steps to ensure they understand their obligations and to put their businesses in the best position they can be ready for the changes.
We have been working with our clients to help them navigate this complex area and prepare tailored action plans. These include details of the new laws being proposed, implementation dates and details of the specific impact these may have on particular clients. We can work with you on a fixed cost basis to understand which of the changes most impact your business and discuss next steps and priorities so you are fully equipped with a detailed action plan to implement ready for the changes when they come in. It is a concise practical plan so you can move to knowing what to do, and when and keep ahead of all the changes, making them work for your organisation,
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like an initial call to discuss this, or join our marketing list to keep updated.
