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Employment Law
Employment Rights Bill Proposed Timeline
Autumn 2025 (awaiting Royal Assent)
Repeal of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 and major parts of the Trade Union Act 2016
New protections preventing dismissal for participating in industrial action
April 2026
Doubling the protective award for collective redundancies
‘Day 1’ paternity and unpaid parental leave
Enhanced whistleblower protections
Establishment of a Fair Work Agency
Statutory Sick Pay improvements (removal of lower‑earnings limit and waiting period)
Simplified trade union recognition and digital/workplace balloting systems
October 2026
Ban on fire-and-rehire
Launch of a Fair Pay Agreement Negotiating Body for adult social care
Stronger tipping laws
Employer duty to take ‘all reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment
Expanded trade union rights
Stricter employment tribunal limits and protections for those taking industrial action
2027
Mandatory gender pay gap and menopause action plans (voluntary from April 2026)
New rights for pregnant workers
Flexible working
Bereavement leave
Protections against zero‑hour contract abuse
Umbrella company regulation
‘Day 1’ unfair dismissal rights
Read the implementation document in full here
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