The recent updates in the Employment Rights Act 2025, introduces significant reforms to UK employment law, enhancing protections for workers and updating existing regulations.

Key Features of the Employment Rights Act 2025:

• Unfair Dismissal Protections: The qualifying period for protection against unfair dismissal will be reduced from two years to six months. Additionally, the cap on compensation for unfair dismissal claims will be removed, allowing for potentially higher claims
• Zero Hours Contract: The Act introduces limitations on exploitative zero hours contracts, ensuring guaranteed minimum hours and compensation for late cancellations of shifts.
• Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): The eligibility for SSP will expand, removing the “Lower Earnings Limit” and the three-day waiting period before payments begin.
• Family Leave: New rights will be introduced, including a “day one” right to paternity leave and changes to shared paternal leave, allowing for more flexibility.
• Whistleblower Protections: Enhanced protections will be provided for whistleblowers, explicitly including disclosures of sexual harassment as qualifying for protection.
• Trade Union Rights: The Act strengthens trade union rights, including the right to access workplaces for organising and collective bargaining, and simplifies the process for industrial action.
• Implementation timeline: The changes will be phased in over 2026 and 2027, with some provisions already in effect as of December 2025.

For further reading, please visit the Government website for more information

If you are a member and need help at work or simply want some advice, please contact the office team on  01442 891122  or email info@advance-union.org