Alan Kitto
Within the last few days, the Government has issued an updated timescale on the introduction of the various provisions contained within its Employment Rights Bill.
In April 2026:
Changes to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) rules will take place to remove the current three day waiting period (meaning SSP will be payable from day one of each sickness absence) and to remove the lower earnings limit (meaning the lowest paid will receive SSP albeit at 80% of their average earnings).
Paternity and unpaid Parental Leave will become day one rights.
A Fair Work Agency will be established, which will be capable of issuing civil penalties for breaches of employment laws, ordering employers to compensate employees for underpayments or other violations and enforce payment of Employment Tribunal awards and settlements. They will have the power to enter business premises to inspect documents and records and to seize and retain documents as necessary.
In October 2026:
A ban on the practice of ‘fire and rehire’ takes effect.
Employers will need to take ‘all reasonable steps’ not just ‘reasonable steos’ as is currently the case to prevent sexual harassment.
In 2027 (no dates have been given but employment law changes normally take effect in April or October)
The ability to bring an unfair dismissal claim will become a day one right.
Increased rights for pregnant workers take effect.
Bereavement leave will be introduced.
Increased protection against the abise of zero hours contracts will be introduced.
The introduction of a day one right to being unfair dismissal claim had been previously set to be introduced in October 2026.
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