header-logo header-logo

Employment Rights Bill: what’s next?

228914
As the Bill nears the end of its journey in the Lords, Charles Pigott predicts its future
  • After a quiet committee stage, the Employment Rights Bill had a more tempestuous report stage, with government amendments that affect non-disclosure agreements, bereavement leave, fire and re-hire measures, and zero-hours and low-hours workers.
  • The first wave of measures will take effect on 6 April 2026. But day-one unfair dismissal rights and new protections for zero-hours and reduced-hours workers will be deferred until 2027.

The Employment Rights Bill completed its report stage in the House of Lords on 23 July. After a highly technical committee stage, more substantive amendments were passed at the report stage, including some non-government amendments. The third reading took place on 3 September, and the Bill will now return to the Commons for the Lords’ amendments to be considered.

A quiet committee stage

When the lengthy committee stage ended on 24 June after ten days of sittings, it was widely assumed that the Bill was nearing its final form, with no significant amendments expected.

The reprinted Bill

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Muckle LLP—Stacey Brown

Muckle LLP—Stacey Brown

Corporate governance and company law specialist joins the team

Excello Law—Heather Horsewood & Darren Barwick

Excello Law—Heather Horsewood & Darren Barwick

North west team expands with senior private client and property hires

Ward Hadaway—Paul Wigham

Ward Hadaway—Paul Wigham

Firm boosts corporate team in Newcastle to support high-growth technology businesses

NEWS

NOTICE UNDER THE TRUSTEE ACT 1925

HERBERT SMITH STAFF PENSION SCHEME (THE “SCHEME”)

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND BENEFICIARIES UNDER SECTION 27 OF THE TRUSTEE ACT 1925
Law firm HFW is offering clients lawyers on call for dawn raids, sanctions issues and other regulatory emergencies
From gender-critical speech to notice periods and incapability dismissals, employment law continues to turn on fine distinctions. In his latest employment law brief for NLJ, Ian Smith of Norwich Law School reviews a cluster of recent decisions, led by Bailey v Stonewall, where the Court of Appeal clarified the limits of third-party liability under the Equality Act
Non-molestation orders are meant to be the frontline defence against domestic abuse, yet their enforcement often falls short. Writing in NLJ this week, Jeni Kavanagh, Jessica Mortimer and Oliver Kavanagh analyse why the criminalisation of breach has failed to deliver consistent protection
Assisted dying remains one of the most fraught fault lines in English law, where compassion and criminal liability sit uncomfortably close. Writing in NLJ this week, Julie Gowland and Barny Croft of Birketts examine how acts motivated by care—booking travel, completing paperwork, or offering emotional support—can still fall within the wide reach of the Suicide Act 1961
back-to-top-scroll