Roadmap Announced for the Employment Rights Bill
1st July, 2025
On Tuesday 1 July 2025, the UK government released a roadmap for implementing the Employment Rights Bill.
As mentioned in the previous article this piece of legislation will be the most significant upgrade to workers protections that we will have seen in decades.
So what can you expect and when?
2025 - Immediately following Royal Assent
- Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 and the majority of the Trade Union Act 2016 repeal.
April 2026
- Parental and paternity leave day one rights, removing minimum service thresholds
- Lower earnings limit (LEL) and waiting period for statutory sick pay will be abolished
October 2026
- Harassment - Employers will also be required to take ‘all reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment, including from third parties
- Tipping laws - new tipping laws will ensure transparency and fairness
- Fire and Rehire - a ban on fire and rehire tactics
- Social care - a Fair pay agreement negotiating body will be introduced to address low wages and workforce shortages
Final phase in 2027
The government has confirmed that consultations with employers, unions and other stakeholders will continue into 2026 for some of the more complex reforms.
- Bereavement leave introduction
- Protection from unfair dismissal from day one
- Pregnant employees – stronger rights
- Ending the exploitative use of zero-hours contracts
