When does the Employment Rights Act 2025 come into force?

In stages. It received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025, the first changes took effect on 6 April 2026, the tribunal time-limit change applies from 1 October 2026, and the unfair dismissal changes arrive on 1 January 2027. As of May 2026, some provisions, including the new zero-hours contract rights, had no confirmed commencement date.

What changed in April 2026 under the Employment Rights Act 2025?

From 6 April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay is payable from the first day of illness, the maximum protective award for collective redundancy doubled from 90 to 180 days’ pay, and raising sexual harassment became a protected disclosure. Paternity leave and unpaid parental leave also became day-one rights.

Does the Employment Rights Act 2025 change employment tribunal time limits?

Yes. For most claims, the limit is six months less one day for acts on or after 1 October 2026. If the act you are complaining about happened before that date, it is still three months less one day.

Is fire and rehire illegal under the Employment Rights Act 2025?

Not outright, but from 1 January 2027 dismissing someone for refusing to agree to a change in specified contract terms, such as pay, hours or pension, becomes automatically unfair. There is a narrow exception where the employer can show genuine financial difficulty threatening the survival of the business.

Is the Employment Rights Act 1996 still current?

Yes. The Employment Rights Act 1996 remains in force, and many of the 2025 changes, including the shorter unfair dismissal qualifying period, work by amending it. Which version applies to you depends on the date of the dismissal or act you are complaining about.

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The Employment Rights Act 2025: What's Already Changed, and What's Coming

The Employment Rights Act 2025 comes in stages: day-one SSP from April 2026, six-month tribunal time limits from October, unfair dismissa…