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Employment Rights Act hub

Employment Rights Act hub

Stay ahead of the Employment Rights Act 2025. Access the latest guidance, key implementation dates and practical steps to help your business remain compliant and reduce employment risk.

The Employment Rights Act represents the most significant overhaul of employment law in a generation. While some changes are already in force, many more are expected to be introduced over the coming months and into 2027.

Employers should be reviewing contracts, policies, management processes and workforce planning now to ensure they are prepared. This hub brings together the latest updates, practical guidance and resources from TWM's Employment Law team to help your business stay compliant and reduce risk.

What does this mean for smaller employers?

Many smaller businesses do not have dedicated HR teams or in-house employment lawyers. As changes are introduced, employers may need to review contracts, policies and management procedures to ensure they remain compliant.

Even straightforward day-to-day issues such as managing absence, handling probation periods, responding to flexible working requests or carrying out redundancies may require a different approach under the new rules. Early preparation can help reduce compliance risks, avoid costly disputes and give managers greater confidence when making employment decisions.

If you're unsure where to start, our Employment Law team can help identify the areas of your business most likely to be affected and prioritise the steps needed to prepare.

Key Contact

Key insights

Unfair dismissal compensation cap to be removed: what employers need to do before January 2027

From January 2027, employers will face one of the most significant changes to unfair dismissal law in many years. As part of the Employment Rights Act reforms, the current cap on compensatory awards for unfair dismissal is due to be removed, potentially exposing businesses to substantially larger Employment Tribunal awards.

Employment Rights Act 2025: key changes employers need to prepare for this April

April 2026 marks the first phase of significant reforms to employment law following the Employment Rights Act (ERA) receiving Royal Assent in late 2025.

Employment Rights Act: trade union reforms and what employers need to know

A number of significant trade union reforms introduced under the Employment Rights Act 2025 have now come into force, marking a clear shift in the UK’s approach to industrial relations.

Prepare your business for the Employment Rights Act

Our Employment Law team can help you with policy reviews, manager training, workforce restructuring and employment law compliance. Speak to us about the practical steps your organisation should be taking now.

Contact the team

Timeline

December 2025

Employment Rights Act recieves Royal Assent

The Employment Rights Act received Royal Assent and minimum service level rules were repealed. The reforms will be introduced in phases, with further changes expected over the following months.

18 February 2026

Trade Union reforms take effect

Early trade union and industrial action reforms came into force, including simplified notification requirements and stronger protections against dismissal for employees taking industrial action.

6 April 2026

Day-One Rights and SSP reforms introduced

New employment rights took effect, including day-one paternity leave and unpaid parental leave, Statutory Sick Pay reforms, enhanced whistleblowing protections and higher collective redundancy protective awards.

By 31 August 2026

Electronic Trade Union balloting expected

Electronic and workplace balloting for statutory trade union ballots is expected to be introduced, modernising how unions conduct ballots and engage with members.

1 October 2026

Employment Tribunal time limits extended

The time limit for bringing Employment Tribunal claims is expected to increase from three months to six months, giving employees more time to pursue claims.

30 October 2026

Workplace harassment duties expanded

Further workplace harassment obligations and significant trade union reforms are expected to come into force, strengthening employer responsibilities and employee protections.

End of 2026

Additional worker protection measures

Further sector-specific employment protections are expected, including strengthened tipping legislation and other worker safeguard measures where relevant.

From January 2027

Fire and rehire protections introduced

New restrictions on fire and rehire practices are expected to strengthen protections for employees, placing greater obligations on employers to explore alternatives before making contractual changes.

1 January 2027

Unfair dismissal reforms take effect

New unfair dismissal provisions are expected to come into force, reshaping how employers manage probation periods, performance concerns and dismissal processes from the start of employment.

Employment Law and HR advice

Our employment specialists provide practical advice for employers, helping you manage people, policies and workplace challenges with confidence.

Advising employers

Our Employment Law team has substantial experience advising employers of all sizes, from small businesses to large corporate organisations with sizeable HR departments.

Contracts, policies and procedures

Employment contracts and workplace policies to protect your business and support effective staff management.

Employment and HR Training

Our training workshops focus on giving delegates practical tools to manage in an effective way the day-to-day HR and employment law issues that they face in their workplace.

Contact the team

Here's how to get in touch if you have any questions at all or would like to speak to us about your enquiry. Please complete the form below and one of our experts will get in touch to discuss how we can help.

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Related insights

  • 03 September 2026

Unfair dismissal compensation cap to be removed: what employers need to do before January 2027

Read more
  • 25 March 2026

Employment Rights Act 2025: key changes employers need to prepare for this April

Read more
  • 26 February 2026

Employment Rights Act: trade union reforms and what employers need to know

Read more
  • 14 October 2025

Employment Rights Bill: what employers need to know

Read more

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