{"id":26327,"date":"2025-12-17T10:36:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T10:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/?post_type=knowledge&#038;p=26327"},"modified":"2026-05-08T13:24:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T13:24:17","slug":"employment-rights-bill","status":"publish","type":"knowledge","link":"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/staff\/employment-rights-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"Employment Rights Bill becomes law \u2013 how can businesses prepare?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Employment Rights Bill is set to become law after the legislation was agreed in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bill, which is being described as a \u2018generational shift\u2019 for workers\u2019 rights, will apply in England, Scotland, and Wales (but not Northern Ireland).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#roadmap\">Employment Rights Bill roadmap<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#what\">What is the Employment Rights Bill?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#prepare\">How to prepare for the Employment Rights Bill<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"roadmap\">Employment Rights Bill roadmap<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The legislation of the Employment Rights Bill has been agreed in the House of Lords. It\u2019s now due to receive Royal Assent this week \u2013 at which point it becomes law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the bill set to bring such huge changes to employment law, the government plans to roll out the changes in phases as part of the following roadmap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-reforms-coming-soon\">Reforms coming soon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">April 2026<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">establishing the Fair Work Agency to help protect workers\u2019 rights<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">removing the lower earnings limit and three-day waiting period before claiming Statutory Sick Pay<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">access to unpaid paternal leave and paternity leave from day one in employment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">doubling the collective redundancy protective award \u2013 including making the compensation period twice as long<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">further protection for whistleblowers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">simplifying the trade union recognition process<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">introducing electronic and workplace balloting for union votes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">October 2026<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">the end of fire and rehire practices \u2013 where employers fire their employees and hire them back under worse conditions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">tightening of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/staff\/staff-tips-rules-for-small-businesses\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1355\">tipping laws&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">time limits on employment tribunals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">requiring employers to take \u201call reasonable steps\u201d to prevent the sexual harassment of their employees<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From 2027<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">mandatory gender pay gap and menopause action plans (after being introduced on a voluntary basis in April 2026)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">more rights for pregnant workers \u2013 including protection from dismissal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">the right to bereavement leave when a close family member dies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">the end of exploitative zero hour contracts \u2013 including for agency workers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">more regulation of umbrella companies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">protection from unfair dismissal from the first day of employment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read the <a href=\"https:\/\/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk\/media\/686507a33b77477f9da0726e\/implementing-the-employment-rights-bill-roadmap.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">full list of changes in the roadmap<\/a> on the government website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-300-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a0af75fe wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:10px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what\">What is the Employment Rights Bill?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Want to know more about some of the biggest changes as part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/government-unveils-most-significant-reforms-to-employment-rights\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Employment Rights Bill<\/a>? Learn more about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#zero-hour\">the end to forced zero hour contracts<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#parental-and-bereavement-leave\">day one entitlement to parental and bereavement leave<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#unfair-dismissal\">protection against unfair dismissal<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#flexible-working\">easier access to flexible working<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#ssp\">improvements to Statutory Sick Pay<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#fire-and-rehire\">the end to fire and rehire practices<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#protection\">more protection for pregnant workers and new mothers<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"#fair-work-agency\">establishing a Fair Work Agency<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"zero-hour\">Zero hour contracts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As part of the new legislation, employers must offer workers employed on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/staff\/what-is-a-zero-hour-contract\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1572\">zero hour contracts<\/a> a guaranteed-hours contract, which will be based on the hours they\u2019ve worked during a 12-week period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Zero hour workers will also be entitled to compensation if their shifts are cancelled or end early. You\u2019ll also need to give them \u2018reasonable notice\u2019 ahead of any changes to their shifts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, employees have the choice to stay on a zero hour contract if they prefer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Agency workers will be included in this new law \u2013 including eligibility for compensation if shifts are changed or cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These changes are expected to come into effect from 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"parental-and-bereavement-leave\">Unpaid parental and bereavement leave<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From 2027, employees will be able to access unpaid parental and bereavement leave from their first day of employment. This currently only applies to staff who\u2019ve been employed for more than a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read our full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/staff\/employers-guide-to-unpaid-leave\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1181\">guide to unpaid leave<\/a> to learn more about how to approach parental and bereavement leave as an employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"unfair-dismissal\">Unfair dismissal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Employees will now be able to claim unfair dismissal from their first day of employment in a business from 2027. Employees are currently only able to claim unfair dismissal after two years working at a company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, workers will now be subject to a longer probation period. During this period, employers are able to dismiss staff more easily while having more time to assess their suitability for a role. So far, the government has a preference for the probation period to last nine months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-001\">\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"flexible-working\">Flexible working<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From 2027, the bill is also set to bring changes to how businesses approach flexible working \u2013 which is to be seen as the default from day one. Employers will now have to say yes to flexible working requests, unless they can prove it\u2019s \u201cunreasonable\u201d. Some reasons for denying a flexible working request include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">additional costs to the business<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">affecting the ability to meet customer demand<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">inability to re-organise work among existing staff<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">inability to recruit additional staff<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">detrimental impact on quality<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The right to request flexible working from the first day of employment was originally introduced in April 2024 as part of the previous government\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/staff\/flexible-working-bill\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1387\">Flexible Working Bill<\/a> but this new legislation goes further, by making flexible working the default.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ssp\">Statutory Sick Pay<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From April 2026, the government will remove the lower earnings limit and three-day waiting period before employees can claim <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/staff\/ssp-rate-how-much-is-statutory-sick-pay\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1222\">Statutory Sick Pay<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Currently, employees need to be ill for more than three days in a row, as well as earn an average of \u00a3123 a week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When this earnings limit is removed, those earning under \u00a3123 will be able to get SSP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Workers will now be entitled to 80 per cent of their average weekly earnings or statutory sick pay (currently \u00a3116.75 a week) \u2013 whichever is the lowest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"fire-and-rehire\">Fire and rehire<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Firing and rehiring refers to employees firing their employees and hiring them back under worse conditions \u2013 such as less pay, fewer hours contracted, or differing start and end times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Employment Rights Bill is set to ban these practices from October 2026. However, there are some exceptions (such as if a business is at risk of becoming insolvent).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Businesses caught firing and rehiring could be forced to pay compensation of 180 days of pay to the worker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"protection\">Protection for pregnant workers and new mothers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From 2027, there\u2019ll be further protection in place to protect pregnant workers, as well as those returning from <a data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1482\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/staff\/maternity-policy-template\/\">maternity leave<\/a>. Further details of how this will work are yet to be announced, but protection from dismissal could be extended for up to six months after returning from maternity leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"fair-work-agency\">Fair Work Agency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From April 2026, a new Fair Work Agency will be established, combining different specialist enforcement bodies to help protect workers\u2019 rights, as well as offering guidance to employers on all the above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-300-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a0af75fe wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:10px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--90)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"prepare\"><strong>How to prepare for the Employment Rights Bill<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the first updates from the Employment Rights Bill set to come in from as soon as winter 2025, it\u2019s a good idea to start checking your current practices around:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex has-2-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">sick leave<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">paternity and maternity pay and leave<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">tipping practices<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">employment tribunals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">rights for pregnant workers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\">zero hour contracts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-more-guides-for-employers\">More guides for employers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/staff\/what-is-a-staff-handbook\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1058\">How to write a staff handbook: a guide for small businesses<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/staff\/business-guide-to-the-onboarding-process\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1088\">How to create an onboarding process for your business<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/starting-out\/how-to-start-a-business\/\" data-type=\"knowledge\" data-id=\"1099\">HR toolkit: what HR tools do growing businesses need?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/business-insurance\/faq\/what-does-employers-liability-insurance-cover\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"592\" >What does employers\u2019 liability insurance cover?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-upsell-001\" class=\"wp-block-group has-azure-200-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-94e519ba wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\">Ready to set up your cover?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">As one of the UK&#8217;s biggest <a href=\"\/business-insurance\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"5152\">business insurance<\/a> providers, we specialise in <a href=\"\/business-insurance\/public-liability-insurance\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"734\" >public liability insurance<\/a> and protect more trades than anybody else. Why not take a look now and build a quick, tailored quote?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/quote.simplybusiness.co.uk\/business\">Start your quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"nba-body-end\">\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s everything small business owners need to know about the Employment Rights Bill.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":56,"featured_media":26328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"sb_hreflang":"","sb_hreflang_url":"","disable_breadcrumbs":false,"sb_breadcrumbs":[],"sb_reviewed_by":"","sb_review_date":"","sb_enable_content_gating":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[336,342,110],"hidden-category":[],"coauthors":[24],"class_list":["post-26327","knowledge","type-knowledge","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-structure","category-staff","category-business-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Employment Rights Bill to become law this week<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Employment Rights Bill is set to become law this week. With changes due to start soon, here\u2019s what small business owners need to know.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/staff\/employment-rights-bill\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Employment Rights Bill becomes law \u2013 how can businesses prepare?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Here\u2019s everything small business owners need to know about the Employment Rights Bill.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/staff\/employment-rights-bill\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Simply Business UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/simplybusiness\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-08T13:24:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2024\/10\/employment-rights-bill.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"815\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"543\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@simplybusiness\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"Rosanna Parrish\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/staff\/employment-rights-bill\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplybusiness.co.uk\/knowledge\/staff\/employment-rights-bill\/\"},\"author\":{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Rosanna Parrish\",\"description\":\"Rosanna Parrish is a Copywriter at Simply Business specialising in side hustles \u2013 as well as all things freelance, social media, and ecommerce. 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