When labour came into power last summer, they promised employment law reform as a priority. Dubbed the biggest shake-up of employment rights for a generation, the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) is now reaching the tail end of the parliamentary process and is anticipated to be on the statute book by autumn.
Once the ERB is passed, most provisions will not come into effect straight away. Instead, it provides a framework for the updated legal position, and there will be a need for consultation and further law to deliver much of the detail required and to bring the new measures into effect.
On 1 July 2025, the government published its roadmap, giving an indication of what we can expect to happen and when. Employers will not be hit with everything all at once, or quickly, with a phased approach instead. Although the roadmap provides a helpful insight into planned timeframes, the future employment law landscape remains uncertain. Where proposals remain subject to further consultation, it remains unclear what direction they will take, with businesses and trade unions in disagreement about a workable way forward. It remains possible that some of the provisions never do become law, either being dropped along the way or never implemented.Continue Reading UK employment law reform roadmap published – buckle up for the ride