Keeping you in the Know
Employment Law Hub
Employment Law
Keeping you in the know
Changing social and political mindsets means employment law never stands still.
Changing social and political mindsets means employment law never stands still. In the next year, the UK will have important updates that will affect your business, mostly driven by the Employment Rights Bill. These changes will impact hiring, contracts, employee rights, and worker conditions. As an employer, staying ahead of these changes is key to protecting your business and supporting your workforce.
As one of the UK’s leading recruitment partners, we’ve created this Hub to help you cut through the noise with clear, practical guidance on employment law that you can rely on. No jargon, no fluff, no guesswork – just the information you need to stay compliant, support your workforce and have confidence in your decisions.
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What's changing?
From April 6th 2026, the employment law reforms are likely to impact the following areas for your business:
Worker Rights and Protections
Employers will need to stay on top of updates to minimum wage regulations, redundancy rights and unfair dismissal protections.
Flexibility and Remote Working
With growing demand for flexibility, new regulations will impact employees' rights to request remote or hybrid working arrangements from day one.
Holiday Pay and Working Hours
Recent legal shifts will impact how holiday entitlement and pay are calculated, particularly for workers with variable hours.
Equality and Discrimination
Updates in equality legislation are likely to introduce stricter requirements for diversity, inclusion and workplace fairness. In addition, legislation being introduced in April 2026 will create changes in parental leave.
Keep up-to-date
The Latest Employment Law Update News
Need Support? Let's talk
We get it. Understanding and implementing employment law changes can be complex, especially when a high volume of updates is coming through. That’s why Meridian is here to help. Whether you need guidance on compliance, policy updates or best practice, get in touch with our team today. You can also sign up for our newsletter or join our LinkedIn community, Meridian Recruitment Matters, for the most up-to-date information and advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Employment Rights Act 2025?
What is the Employment Rights Act 2025?
The Employment Rights Act 2025 is a major reform package that updates UK employment law across 2026–2027. It includes new day‑one rights, changes to sick pay, strengthened enforcement, expanded family leave rights, and a phased shift in unfair dismissal rules.
When do the Employment Rights Act changes come into force?
When do the Employment Rights Act changes come into force?
Most changes begin on 6th April 2026, with additional reforms coming into effect throughout late 2026 and January 2027. The government intentionally phased the rollout to give employers time to prepare.
What changes are confirmed for April 2026?
Check our blog for an overview of the changes launching on 6th April 2026.
What ERA changes are expected later in 2026 and 2027?
Expected future changes include:
- Enhanced employer duty to prevent sexual harassment (October 2026)
- Third‑party harassment liability
- Restrictions on “fire and rehire” practices (2027)
- Reduction of unfair dismissal qualifying period to six months (January 2027)
- Removal of the unfair dismissal compensation cap (January 2027)
