Does your business have employees? Big changes are due to happen with Employment Law Changes 2026 / 2027

The Government has just outlined a timeline for introducing the Employment Rights Bill, giving employers clearer guidance on what changes are coming and when they’ll take effect.

This bill represents one of the most significant overhauls of UK employment law to date, with 28 individual reforms planned. The updates will be introduced in stages and are expected to be fully implemented by 2027.

Here are a few key updates likely to impact your business:

• April 2026: Statutory Sick Pay will be overhauled—removing both the lower earnings threshold and the initial waiting days. In addition, employees will gain immediate access to paternity and unpaid parental leave from their first day on the job.
• October 2026: New legislation will address fire-and-rehire practices, enhance protection from workplace harassment, and extend the time-frame for lodging claims with an employment tribunal from three to six months.
• 2027: Employees will become eligible to claim unfair dismissal from their first day of employment. There will also be new rules relating to zero-hour contracts.

You can read more about the Employment Rights Bill and how it might affect you by clicking here