Employment and Labor Law

The UK Government has now published an implementation roadmap, setting out a phased delivery plan for the biggest reform to UK employment law in 30 years.

Below, we look at when some of the key provisions of the Employment Rights Bill will come into force.

April 2026

• Collective redundancy protective award to double from 90 days to 180 days’ gross pay
• Day one right to paternity leave
• Day one right to unpaid parental leave
• Removal of the lower earnings limit (currently £125 per week) and waiting period for statutory sick pay

October 2026

• Ban on fire and re-hire practices (except in very exceptional circumstances where the business is facing extreme financial difficulty)
• Further rules on the fair allocation of tips, tightening the rules that came into force via the Tips Act 2023.
• Duty to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment of employees (including from third parties such as customers and suppliers) – an extension on the duty to take ‘reasonable steps’ that came into force in October 2024.
• Duty to not permit the harassment of employees by third parties
• Duty to inform employees of their right to join a trade union and to include this right in written statements of particulars
• Extension of the time limit to bring an Employment Tribunal claim, which in most cases will be from 3 months to 6 months

2027

• Ban on exploitative zero hours contracts, including obligations to offer a “guaranteed hours contract” and to give reasonable notice of shifts and any changes to shifts. For more information, please see Zero hour and low hour contract workers | Kuits Solicitors.
• Day one protection from unfair dismissal, removing the current two-year qualifying period.

Whilst the reforms are extensive, the implementation roadmap provides employers with much-needed clarity. The phased approach ensures employers have time to prepare and implement any necessary adaptions. The Government has also stated an intention to produce clear and detailed guidance in advance of the deadlines to help businesses prepare.

The changes will take time to implement.