> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.kaeltripton.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Employment Rights Act 2025: What Changes for Employers and When
- URL: https://www.kaeltripton.com/work/employment-rights-act-uk/
- Published: 2026-11-05T09:27:08.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-05T09:27:07.000Z
- Description: The Employment Rights Act 2025 is being phased in from 2026 to 2027. Day-one sick pay is in force, most tribunal claims now have a 6 months time limit, and unfair dismissal protection after 6 months of service starts on 1 January 2027.
- Author: Chandraketu Tripathi
- Tags: #section-work, work-rights, work-sick-pay

WORKUpdated 5 November 2026

The Employment Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025\. Day-one Statutory Sick Pay and paternity leave started on 6 April 2026, most tribunal time limits rose to 6 months on 1 October 2026, and the unfair dismissal qualifying period falls from two years to 6 months on 1 January 2027.

TL;DR · LAST REVIEWED 5 NOVEMBER 2026

- The Employment Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025 and is being brought in by stages.
- Statutory Sick Pay is paid from day one since 6 April 2026, with the lower earnings limit removed.
- Most employment tribunal claims have had a 6 month time limit since 1 October 2026, up from 3 months.
- From 1 January 2027 employees can claim unfair dismissal after 6 months of service instead of two years.
- Guaranteed hours for zero-hours workers have no start date yet.

Employment Rights Act 2025 at a glance

| Item                               | Detail                       |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------- |
| Royal Assent                       | 18 December 2025             |
| Day-one SSP and paternity leave    | 6 April 2026                 |
| Tribunal time limit                | 6 months from 1 October 2026 |
| Unfair dismissal qualifying period | 6 months from 1 January 2027 |
| Fire and rehire rules              | Planned for March 2027       |

Source: [GOV.UK timeline update, 22 October 2026](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/implementing-the-plan-to-make-work-pay-and-employment-rights-act/plan-to-make-work-pay-and-employment-rights-act-timeline-update?ref=kaeltripton.com)

KEY FACTS

- Royal Assent: 18 December 2025, 2025 c. 36 ([legislation.gov.uk](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/36?ref=kaeltripton.com)).
- Statutory Sick Pay: from the first day of sickness since 6 April 2026, at £123.25 a week or 80% of earnings if lower ([GOV.UK](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rates-and-thresholds-for-employers-2026-to-2027?ref=kaeltripton.com)).
- Tribunal time limits: 6 months from 1 October 2026 ([GOV.UK timeline](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/implementing-the-plan-to-make-work-pay-and-employment-rights-act/plan-to-make-work-pay-and-employment-rights-act-timeline-update?ref=kaeltripton.com)).
- Unfair dismissal qualifying period: 6 months from 1 January 2027 ([SI 2026/559](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/559/made?ref=kaeltripton.com)).
- Fair Work Agency: established on 7 April 2026.

## What the Employment Rights Act 2025 is

The Employment Rights Act 2025 began as the Employment Rights Bill, introduced in the House of Commons on 10 October 2024, and received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025\. It is chapter 36 of 2025.

Most of the Act does not take effect on its own. Ministers bring each part into force through commencement regulations, and six sets were made during 2026\. The Department for Business and Trade publishes a timeline of planned dates, last updated on 22 October 2026\. It states that future dates are subject to parliamentary processes.

ACAS publishes employer guidance on each change as it takes effect.

## What is already in force

On 18 December 2025 the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 was repealed. From 18 February 2026 most of the Trade Union Act 2016 was repealed. As a result, notice of industrial action fell from 14 to 10 days and ballot mandates were extended from 6 to 12 months.

From 6 April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay is payable from day one, day-one paternity leave and unpaid parental leave apply, Bereaved Partners' Paternity Leave of up to 52 weeks is available, and holiday pay records must be kept for at least 6 years. The Fair Work Agency was established on 7 April 2026.

From 30 October 2026 employers must take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their staff, including harassment by third parties such as customers.

__Employment Rights Act 2025: changes in force by November 2026__
| Date             | Change                                                                                                             |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| 18 February 2026 | Industrial action notice cut from 14 to 10 days; ballot mandates last 12 months                                    |
| 6 April 2026     | Statutory Sick Pay from day one; day-one paternity and unpaid parental leave; protective award doubled to 180 days |
| 7 April 2026     | Fair Work Agency established                                                                                       |
| 1 October 2026   | Most employment tribunal time limits extended from 3 to 6 months                                                   |
| 30 October 2026  | Duty to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment, including by third parties                         |

Source: [GOV.UK: Employment Rights Act timeline update, 22 October 2026](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/implementing-the-plan-to-make-work-pay-and-employment-rights-act/plan-to-make-work-pay-and-employment-rights-act-timeline-update?ref=kaeltripton.com)

## Sick pay and family leave

From 6 April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay is paid from the first day of sickness rather than the fourth day, and the lower earnings limit no longer applies. For 2026/27 the weekly rate is £123.25 or 80% of the employee's average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. The government estimates that the sick pay changes give workers about £400 million a year in extra sick pay.

Paternity leave became a day-one right. The government says this makes 32,000 more fathers and partners eligible. About 1.5 million more parents became eligible for unpaid parental leave.

## Dismissal, redundancy and tribunals

Section 25 of the Act changes the qualifying period for unfair dismissal from two years to 6 months from 1 January 2027, and removes the cap on the compensatory award. The maximum protective award for failing to consult on collective redundancies doubled from 90 to 180 days' pay on 6 April 2026.

From 1 October 2026 the time limit for most employment tribunal claims rose from 3 months to 6 months. This does not apply where the relevant date was before 1 October 2026.

Dismissing someone for refusing a change to their contract, known as fire and rehire, is planned to become automatically unfair in most cases from March 2027.

## What changes in 2027

In April 2027 a right to bereavement leave, including after pregnancy loss before 24 weeks, is planned, along with an organisation-wide threshold for collective redundancy consultation. Employers with 250 or more workers in the private and voluntary sectors are due to publish equality action plans from April 2027.

From October 2027 pregnant women and new mothers are due to get stronger protection from dismissal, and employers refusing flexible working will have to cite one of 8 reasons and act reasonably.

Guaranteed hours, notice of shifts and pay for cancelled shifts for zero-hours workers have no start date; the government says they depend on consultation.

__Employment Rights Act 2025: changes planned for 2027__
| Planned date   | Change                                                                                                       |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| 1 January 2027 | Unfair dismissal qualifying period cut from two years to 6 months; compensation cap removed                  |
| March 2027     | Fire and rehire becomes automatically unfair in most cases                                                   |
| April 2027     | Bereavement leave, including pregnancy loss; organisation-wide collective redundancy threshold               |
| October 2027   | Stronger dismissal protection for pregnant women and new mothers; tighter rules on refusing flexible working |
| No date set    | Guaranteed hours, shift notice and cancellation pay for zero-hours workers                                   |

Source: [GOV.UK: Employment Rights Act timeline update, 22 October 2026](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/implementing-the-plan-to-make-work-pay-and-employment-rights-act/plan-to-make-work-pay-and-employment-rights-act-timeline-update?ref=kaeltripton.com)

RELATED GUIDES

- [Probation periods and employment rights](https://www.kaeltripton.com/uk-probation-period-employment-rights/)
- [Statutory Sick Pay explained](https://www.kaeltripton.com/uk-sick-pay-ssp-explained/)
- [Bank holiday pay rights](https://www.kaeltripton.com/bank-holiday-pay-rights-uk-2026/)
- [Right to work checks](https://www.kaeltripton.com/right-to-work-checks-uk/)
- [HR software for small businesses](https://www.kaeltripton.com/hr-software-for-small-business-uk/)

DISCLAIMER

This article is editorial information, not financial advice. Kael Tripton Ltd is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Figures were correct at the last review date shown above; verify current rates and rules with the primary sources listed below before acting.

## Frequently asked questions

### When did the Employment Rights Act 2025 become law?

The Employment Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025\. Its measures start on different dates from 2025 to 2027 under commencement regulations.

### When does unfair dismissal protection start after 6 months?

From 1 January 2027 the qualifying period for unfair dismissal protection falls from two years to 6 months, under section 25 of the Act and SI 2026/559.

### Is Statutory Sick Pay now paid from day one?

Yes. Since 6 April 2026 Statutory Sick Pay is paid from the first day of sickness, the lower earnings limit no longer applies, and the 2026/27 rate is £123.25 a week or 80% of average weekly earnings if lower.

### How long does an employee have to bring a tribunal claim?

Most tribunal claims now have a 6 month time limit, up from 3 months, from 1 October 2026\. Claims where the relevant date was before 1 October 2026 keep the old limit.

### When do the zero-hours contract changes start?

No date has been set for the zero-hours contract changes. The government says guaranteed hours, shift notice and cancellation pay depend on consultation.

SOURCES

- [legislation.gov.uk: Employment Rights Act 2025 (c. 36)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/36?ref=kaeltripton.com), accessed 5 November 2026
- [GOV.UK: Plan to Make Work Pay and Employment Rights Act timeline update, 22 October 2026](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/implementing-the-plan-to-make-work-pay-and-employment-rights-act/plan-to-make-work-pay-and-employment-rights-act-timeline-update?ref=kaeltripton.com), accessed 5 November 2026
- [ACAS: Employment Rights Act 2025](https://www.acas.org.uk/employment-rights-act-2025?ref=kaeltripton.com), accessed 5 November 2026
- [legislation.gov.uk: Employment Rights Act 2025 (Commencement No. 4) Regulations 2026, SI 2026/559](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/559/made?ref=kaeltripton.com), accessed 5 November 2026
- [GOV.UK: Millions of workers get new access to sick pay and parental leave, 7 April 2026](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/millions-of-workers-get-new-access-to-sick-pay-and-parental-leave?ref=kaeltripton.com), accessed 5 November 2026
- [UK Parliament: Employment Rights Bill stages](https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3737/stages?ref=kaeltripton.com), accessed 5 November 2026