This week, Sam provides an overview of the Employment Rights Act, including the Government’s recent changes to the proposed timeline. From updates coming into effect this April through to January 2027, we break down what’s changing and when - so you know exactly what to expect and how to prepare.

Key Changes:

6th April 2026

• Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) -Removal of Lower Earning Limit and the 3 unpaid ‘waiting days’, SSP paid from day one.
• Paternity & Parental Leave - Paternity leave and unpaid parental leave becomes a day one right.
• Collective Redundancies - Maximum protective award increasing from 90 to 180 days’ pay per affected employee.
• Bereaved Partners’ Paternity Leave - (non-MWP measure) will enable bereaved fathers and partners to take up to 52 weeks of paternity leave if the mother or primary adopter dies within the first year of the child’s life.

October 2026

• Preventing Sexual Harassment - Employers must take all reasonable steps to prevent harassment (not just ‘reasonable’).
• Third-Party Harassment - Employers will be liable for harassment by third parties unless they can show they took reasonable steps to prevent it.
• Tribunal Time Limits - The time limit for bringing Employment Tribunal claims will double from 3 months to 6 months.

January 2027

• Unfair Dismissal Rights - Amendment of the qualifying period from 2 years to 6 months and the compensation cap will be removed.
• Fire & Rehire - Dismissal automatically unfair where linked to restricted variations (e.g. pay/hours/pensions).
• Action Plans of Gender Equality.
• Enhanced dismissal protection for pregnant workers.
• Further regulation of umbrella companies.
• Collective redundancy change in the collective consultation threshold.
• Further guidance on flexible working.
• Right to guaranteed hours.

Seminars & Events:

https://www.chadwicklawrence.co.uk/seminars/business-services-seminars/

Contact Us:

BoxHR@chadlaw.co.uk

SamPawson@chadlaw.co.uk

NilsODonoghue@chadlaw.co.uk

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠www.linkedin.com/company/employment-law-chadwick-lawrence-llp/

Chapters:

(⁠⁠00:00⁠⁠) Introduction

(⁠⁠01:17) April 2026 Changes

(⁠⁠02:07) October 2026 Changes

(⁠⁠03:10) January 2027 Changes