Employment Law Update — Key Changes Coming in 2026
2026 Employment Rights Bill (ERB): What Every Employer Needs to Know!
The UK’s Employment Rights Bill is a major overhaul of UK employment law. It aims to modernise workers’ rights, strengthen protections, and make workplaces fairer and more supportive.
Once it becomes law (the final stages are happening now), many existing rights and employer obligations will change. It’s one of the biggest reforms to UK employment law in a generation.
Changes proposed if Employment Rights Bill gains Royal Assent
✔ Unfair dismissal qualifying period to reduce from 2 years to 6 months
✔ Current cap on unfair dismissal compensation to be removed
✔ Statutory Sick Pay to become payable from day one, with wider eligibility
✔ Paternity leave and unpaid parental leave to become day-one rights
✔ Whistleblowing protections strengthened
✔ Increased redundancy consultation penalties, including higher protective awards
✔ The introduction of a new enforcement body — the Fair Work Agency
✔ New enforcement body planned: Fair Work Agency
✔ Discrimination, harassment and whistleblowing to remain day-one rights,
✔ Fire-and-Rehire Restrictions and could become automatically unfair
✔ Strengthened Duty to Prevent Harassment (Including Third Parties)
✔ Tribunal Claim Time Limits Extended to 6 Months
Expected time table for the changes
✔ Royal Assent is expected 2026
✔ Initial ERB provisions expected implementation from 2026
✔ Further changes expected to be phased through 2026-2027
We will continue to monitor changes and update you here, on our Social Media and via our Newsletter. Sign up for the Business Strategy Group newsletter here.
ERB provisions are not yet law and remain subject to Royal Assent and commencement regulations
These reforms will increase employee protections and therefore increase compliance requirements for employers. Staying ahead of this early will reduce risk later.
What You Could Do Now
I can assist you with:
- ERB readiness audits
- Review and update contracts, handbooks and HR policies
- Manager Training & HR process reviews
- Refresh Whistleblowing, Disability, Harassment and Grievance processes
- Employment Law risk mitigation
- Ongoing HR support through 2026-27
To discuss your HR and readiness for the New Employment Rights Bill (ERB) further with Jonathan Keable, please get in touch for your no-obligation chat:
Call: 01752 200 377
Email: info@jonathankeable.com
