Be Aware UK

News and views from DLA Piper's Employment team

employment law reform

Employment Rights Act: Preparing for change: Contract change update and action points

/ , , / Employment, ERA/Insights, ERA/latest news, Reform

Following the Employment Rights Act (ERA) receiving royal assent late last year, early 2026 has already seen some further activity in relation to the Act’s provisions on contractual change. The Government’s revised timetable for ERA implementation has moved commencement of the so-called ‘fire and rehire’ provisions from October 2026 to 1 January 2027, tying in […]

Employment Rights Act: Preparing for change: Contract change update and action points Read More »

Employment Rights Act: Preparing for change: The impact of changes to unfair dismissal

/ , , , / Employment, ERA/Insights, ERA/latest news

When the Employment Rights Bill was published in October 2024, the headline measure was the proposal to make unfair dismissal a ‘day 1 right’ by removing the qualifying period. At the 11th hour a series of defeats in the House of Lords forced the government to U-turn on that proposal. Instead, the qualifying period for

Employment Rights Act: Preparing for change: The impact of changes to unfair dismissal Read More »

Employment Rights Act: Preparing for change: Consultations on the trigger for collective redundancy consultation and detriments for taking industrial action

/ , , , , , / Employment, ERA/Consultations, ERA/latest news

On 26 February the government published two further consultation papers on the implementation of aspects of the Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA): Make Work Pay: threshold for triggering collective redundancy obligations consultation and Make Work Pay: protection from detriments for taking industrial action. Collective consultation threshold In addition to retaining the existing trigger for collective

Employment Rights Act: Preparing for change: Consultations on the trigger for collective redundancy consultation and detriments for taking industrial action Read More »

Employment Rights Act: Preparing for change: First major Employment Rights Act measures come into force

/ , , , / Employment, ERA/latest news

On 18 February, the first major measures of the Employment Rights Act (ERA) come into force. The ERA repeals the majority of the Trade Union Act 2016 and significantly relaxes the requirements of the process for organising industrial action. For industrial action ballots opening on or after 18 February, the ERA simplifies requirements on trade unions in

Employment Rights Act: Preparing for change: First major Employment Rights Act measures come into force Read More »

Employment Rights Act: Preparing for change: Consultations on implementation of measures on flexible working, fire and rehire and tipping

/ , , , , , / Employment, ERA/Consultations

The government has published three further consultation papers on implementation of aspects of the Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA), covering flexible working, fire and rehire and tipping. Flexible working Currently, all employees have the right to make a flexible working request . Employers can refuse an application for any of these reasons: Extra costs that

Employment Rights Act: Preparing for change: Consultations on implementation of measures on flexible working, fire and rehire and tipping Read More »

Employment Rights Act: Preparing for change: Revised timetable for implementation

/ , , / Employment, ERA/latest news

On 3 February the government published a revised timetable for implementation of the Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA). Whilst most of the timing remains unchanged from the roadmap published in July 2025, there are some notable changes, particularly in relation to the restrictions on fire and rehire, which move to January 2027. We set out

Employment Rights Act: Preparing for change: Revised timetable for implementation Read More »

Employment Rights Act: Preparing for change: Employment Rights Bill receives Royal Assent, becoming the Employment Rights Act 2025

/ / Employment, ERA/latest news

The Employment Rights Bill (ERB) received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025, becoming the Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA). When the ERB was first laid before parliament in October 2024, it was promoted as ‘the most extensive overhaul of workers’ rights in generations’. Wide-ranging amendments were made in both the House of Commons and House

Employment Rights Act: Preparing for change: Employment Rights Bill receives Royal Assent, becoming the Employment Rights Act 2025 Read More »

Working paper seeks views on options to reform non-competes in employment contracts

/ , , / Employment

The government has issued a working paper seeking views on options to reform non-compete clauses in employment contracts, with the aim of boosting labour market dynamism, supporting innovation, reducing barriers to recruitment and protecting workers. The options considered are: Statutory limit on length (for example, 3 months, possibly varying by company size). Complete ban on

Working paper seeks views on options to reform non-competes in employment contracts Read More »

Timetable for implementation of the Employment Rights Bill published

/ , / Employment

The government has published its long-awaited indicative timetable for implementation of the Employment Right Bill (ERB), Implementing the Employment Rights Bill – Our roadmap for delivering change. The key takeaway is that many of the provisions of the ERB will not come into force until Autumn 2026 and beyond, including the ‘day 1’ right to

Timetable for implementation of the Employment Rights Bill published Read More »

Employment Rights Bill enters next stage: Responses to consultation and amendments

/ , , , , , / Employment

Today the government published its responses to 5 consultation papers on aspects of the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) and put forward amendments to the ERB following consultation with businesses and trade unions. Increased penalties for collective redundancy breaches The maximum protective award for failure to collectively inform and consult on collective redundancies will increase from

Employment Rights Bill enters next stage: Responses to consultation and amendments Read More »

Neonatal care leave and pay to be in force from 6 April 2025

/ , , / Employment

The government has laid regulations before Parliament to bring into force the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 with effect from 6 April 2025, nearly two years after the legislation received Royal Assent. Neonatal Care Leave will apply to parents of babies who are admitted into neonatal care up to 28 days old and who have

Neonatal care leave and pay to be in force from 6 April 2025 Read More »

The Future of Work: Insights into the new Employment Rights Bill: #6 Industrial action

/ , , , / Employment

Labour’s Plan To Make Work Pay, published before the election in May, stated: “Labour will update trade union legislation, so it is fit for a modern economy, removing unnecessary restrictions on trade union activity and ensuring industrial relations are based around good faith negotiation and bargaining. This will end the Conservatives’ scorched-earth approach to industrial

The Future of Work: Insights into the new Employment Rights Bill: #6 Industrial action Read More »

The Future of Work: Insights into the new Employment Rights Bill: #5 Trade union recognition and organising

/ , , , / Employment

In the latest of our articles taking an in-depth look at aspects of the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) we focus on the provisions which strengthen and simplify the law on trade union organising and recognition, which include: Introducing a duty on employers to inform workers of their right to join a trade union. Strengthening trade

The Future of Work: Insights into the new Employment Rights Bill: #5 Trade union recognition and organising Read More »

The Future of Work: Insights into the new Employment Rights Bill: #4 Hospitality & leisure focus

/ , , , , , / Employment

Hotels, restaurants, bars, pubs, sports, gaming, and leisure attractions, all heavily rely on casual and seasonal workers to ensure the business is appropriately resourced to respond to fluctuating demand throughout the year.  As such, hospitality and leisure is the sector which is most likely to be impacted by the government’s upcoming changes to the law

The Future of Work: Insights into the new Employment Rights Bill: #4 Hospitality & leisure focus Read More »