Employment Rights Bill: What Employers Need to Know
Current Status
The new Employment Rights Bill (ERB) is now in its final stages, with consideration of amendments currently underway. Royal Assent is expected in November 2025, meaning the Bill could soon become law and begin reshaping the UK’s employment landscape.
What is the Employment Rights Bill?
The ERB is a significant and far-reaching piece of legislation designed to modernise and strengthen employment law in the UK. If passed, it will bring a number of changes across a wide range of areas, including:
- How redundancies are managed
- Employer duties relating to equality and workplace fairness
- Updates to employment agency regulations
- Trade union, industrial action, and employer association rules
- The rights of workers on public sector contracts
- Pay and conditions for school support and social care staff
- Enforcement of labour market legislation
- Wage protections for seafarers
- Compliance with international maritime employment standards
What Does This Mean for Employers?
The ERB has the potential to significantly impact how businesses operate, particularly in sectors reliant on agency workers, public contracts, or unionised labour.
While the ERB is ambitious and the government initially set an assertive timeline in its July roadmap, some implementation dates have already been delayed. Nonetheless, the government remains committed to pushing the ERB forward.
With Royal Assent expected soon, the focus will now shift from shaping the ERB, to preparing for its implementation. Employers should begin reviewing their policies and practices to ensure they are ready to comply with the new legal requirements once they come into effect.
How We Can Help
At BHR, we provide expert support in reviewing existing employment contracts and workplace policies, as well as drafting new ones tailored to the evolving legal landscape. Our experienced team is dedicated to helping you navigate these changes smoothly and with confidence.
As trusted employment solicitors, we are here to support employers in preparing for the upcoming ERB. Whether you need help understanding how it may affect your business, guidance on responding to consultations, or practical advice on compliance once the ERB becomes law, our employment law specialists are ready to assist.
If you would like to discuss how the ERB could impact your organisation, or if you are interested in our contract and policy drafting services, please get in touch with our employment law team today on 01271 340668.