Employment Rights Act 2025: A Complete Breakdown
The Employment Rights Act 2025 is the biggest shake-up of UK employment law in a generation. With over 28 significant changes being rolled out, it's crucial for every employer to understand what's coming and when.
For a comprehensive overview, download our free, easy-to-read summary guide.
Key Changes & Timelines
The new rules are being introduced in phases. Here’s a look at what to prepare for and when.
From April 2026
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): Becomes a day-one right, paid from the first day of absence.
Parental & Paternity Leave: Both become day-one rights, removing the need for a qualifying service period.
Fair Work Agency: A new agency will be established to consolidate and enforce employment rights.
From October 2026
"Fire and Rehire": Practices will be heavily restricted and could lead to automatic unfair dismissal.
Tribunal Claims: The time limit for bringing a claim will be extended from three to six months.
Third-Party Harassment: Employers will be liable for harassment of staff by third parties (e.g., customers).
Trade Union Rights: Employers must inform employees of their right to join a union.
From 2027
Unfair Dismissal: The qualifying period will be reduced from two years to just six months (from 1 Jan 2027).
Flexible Working: This will become the default, requiring employers to have strong reasons to refuse a request.
Zero-Hours Contracts: Workers on these contracts will have a right to a more stable contract based on their regular hours.
Bereavement Leave: A new day-one right to at least one week of leave will be introduced.
What's Inside the Free Guide?
Our downloadable PDF summary, created by CIPD HR-inform, provides essential details on the Employment Rights Act 2025, including:
A comprehensive table of all new provisions.
Key implementation dates and timelines.
"Points to Note" explaining the practical impact of each change.
A clear, concise format designed for busy employers and HR professionals.
Core Employment Rights Act 2025 Updates You Need to Know
The Employment Rights Act 2025 ushers in a new era of employment law, demanding proactive compliance from all businesses. Key reforms include significant changes to redundancy consultation processes, the introduction of a new Fair Work Agency to enforce standards, and stricter regulations on zero-hours contracts. It's crucial to understand these updates, alongside changes to unfair dismissal claims, new bereavement leave entitlements, and new obligations for preventing workplace sexual harassment, to navigate the new legal landscape effectively.
Ensure your business is prepared for these sweeping reforms.
Restricting Fire and Re-hire
Understand the new limitations on dismissing and re-engaging employees on changed terms.
Flexible Working Rights
Discover the changes to flexible working requests and how they impact employers.
Reporting Duties for Large Employers
Mandatory action plans for Menopause and Gender Pay Gaps are coming for large organisations.
Paternity Leave Updates
Understand the new day-one right to paternity leave, simplifying access for new parents.
Statutory Sick Pay Reforms
Explore how SSP changes, including the removal of waiting days and lower earnings limits.
Sexual Harassment Protections
Discover the new proactive duties for employers and liability for third-party harassment.
Trade Union Access
Learn about the new framework for union access to workplaces and employer obligations.
Unfair Dismissal Rule Changes
Get details on the new six-month qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims.
Prepare for the Employment Rights Act 2025
The Employment Rights Act 2025 ushers in the most significant changes to UK employment law in a generation. Our CIPD HR-inform Pro product service is designed to be your essential guide, providing comprehensive resources, expert advice, and practical tools to ensure your business remains compliant and agile.
WARNING: New Fair Work Agency Powers!
The new Fair Work Agency is set to dramatically change the landscape of employment law enforcement. With unprecedented powers to recover underpayments and initiate tribunal claims on behalf of employees, your business could face significant financial penalties and legal battles if you're not fully compliant.
Are You a Small Business Owner?
You didn't start a business to become an employment lawyer. The Employment Rights Act 2025 adds layers of complexity to hiring and managing staff. CIPD HR-inform Pro acts as your virtual HR department, giving you the contracts, policies, and answers you need, so you can focus on growth
HR Managers are Busy Enough
The Employment Rights Act 2025 is the biggest legislative shift in years. You need more than just news; you need actionable tools. CIPD HR-inform Pro provides the technical breakdowns, the model policies, and the strategic roadmaps to help you guide your leadership team through these changes with confidence.