- By Buckinghamshire Business First
- 5 March, 2026
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The Employment Rights Act became law in December 2025, and will be applicable to 1.4 million businesses across the UK.
Support and guidance is available to all employers seeking to understand how the changes will impact their business, and to workers who want to learn about their new rights.
Changes coming into effect from April 2026 include:
- Statutory Sick Pay: More employees will qualify, with no earnings threshold and no three-day waiting period.
- Day-one family leave: Employees entitled to Paternity Leave and Unpaid Parental Leave from the first day in a new job. Notice can be given from 18th February 2026.
- Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave: New right to time off following the death of a child’s mother or primary adopter.
- Collective redundancy protections: Increase to the protective award for non-compliance.
- Whistleblowing protections: Stronger protections for workers who report sexual harassment.
- Simpler enforcement through Fair Work Agency: A new body to uphold workers’ rights and support businesses with compliance.
As of February 2026, there are simpler requirements for trade unions, including in relation to industrial action.
Further changes will be introduced gradually throughout 2026 and 2027, giving employers time to prepare and ensuring workers have clear information about their new rights.
Where to find all the relevant information
The Government has published a dedicated website which provides free guidance and support to help you understand what applies to your business and actions you need to take.
Acas has a dedicated page explaining what has already changed and a timeline of the changes that are still to come, along with links to training courses for specific topics. This Acas pre-recorded webinar covers the new law and what employers need to do.
There are also two upcoming webinars delivered by the government's Business Academy support programme:
You can also sign up for updates from the government on employment law changes.
Share your views on employment law changes
The Government has opened several consultations on different elements of the employment law changes, giving employers and workers an opportunity to shape how the policies will work in practice. You can find the open consultations here.
BBF is here to help
For business support enquiries, relating to employment law changes or any other business issue, contact our team at [email protected] or book in a chat with one of the team via this online form.
