Following months of parliamentary ping-pong, the Employment Rights Bill received Royal Assent on Thursday 18 December 2025 – formally passing into law, and becoming the Employment Rights Act 2025.
Paving the way for what the government describes as 'the biggest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation', the Act will start to have a significant and wide-ranging impact on businesses nationwide as early as April 2026 – and now is the time to take action.
The Act introduces additions and amendments to existing legislation, including the Employment Rights Act 1996. These changes will be phased in over two years, with most updates scheduled for 2026 and 2027.
There's a lot to digest, so we've broken it down into the key details, dates and what businesses can do to prepare now. Please also feel free to share this guide with anyone else you feel would benefit from a handy overview.
We will continue to share guidance with our clients at every stage of the Act's implementation to help you understand the new requirements and prepare for the changes.
What our clients say:
“We've built a fantastic relationship over many years. Knights have their finger on the pulse and are great across all sectors.
Julie Lane Assurant
Their speed and understanding of external perceptions of our reputation is amazing.”
Need a helping hand?
The Employment Rights Bill will bring with it an extensive overhaul of employment law, and has the potential to impact different businesses in different ways over the coming years. We’re here to cut through the confusion, and help you get the job done.
Click here to find out more about our employment services, and meet your employment experts.
Get in touch to find out more about how we can help you navigate the road ahead.