Employment Rights Bill July 2025 Update

With the latest Employment Rights Bill update announced in early July 2025, in our latest blog we look at the details, the timelines and what this means for you and your business.

MJV Consulting has established itself over the last nine years, as a trusted authority in employment law and HR strategy for businesses in Sussex and Surrey. We have first-hand knowledge and understanding of the business landscape, combined with our proven track record of guiding organisations through complex legislative changes, positions us to help businesses in Horsham, Crawley and across the Gatwick Diamond Business region to navigate the challenges ahead.

As your dedicated HR specialists, we recognise that pending employment law changes can create uncertainty and operational challenges for businesses of all sizes. That’s why MJV Consulting is committed to demystifying these legislative developments, translating complex legal requirements into practical, actionable strategies that protect your business while supporting your workforce.

Our comprehensive approach goes beyond simple compliance guidance. We work as an extension of your team, providing tailored solutions that align with your specific industry requirements and business objectives. From initial impact assessments through to full implementation support, we ensure that every step of the transition is managed with precision, minimising disruption while maximising the opportunities these changes can bring.

With MJV Consulting as your HR partner, you and your business can move forward with complete confidence, knowing that your employment practices not only meet the highest standards of legal compliance but also enhance your reputation as a forward-thinking employer in South-East England.

The Government has published its official roadmap for implementing the Employment Rights Bill through a paper titled “Implementing the Employment Rights Bill – Our Road Map for Delivering Change.”

Key Consultations: What to expect next?

The employment landscape is evolving rapidly, with critical workforce policy consultations currently shaping the future of HR compliance and employee relations. These consultation phases represent pivotal moments where employment legislation, workplace rights, and organisational responsibilities are being defined and refined.

As your strategic HR partners, MJV Consulting maintains active engagement with these consultation processes, ensuring we stay ahead of emerging employment law developments that will impact your talent management, employee engagement, and HR governance frameworks. 

Our proactive approach means we’re not just monitoring these changes – we’re analysing their implications for your specific workforce demographics, employment contracts and HR policies.

Summer/ Autumn 2025

• Reinstatement of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB)
• Development of a Fair Pay Agreement for the Adult Social Care sector
• Protection from unfair dismissal from day one, including during probation periods

Autumn 2025

• Major trade union reforms, including: Electronic and workplace balloting, Simpler union recognition processes, Duties on employers to inform workers about union rights and access, New rights and protections for union representatives (consultation via Acas)
• Fire and rehire practices under review
• Introduction of regulations for umbrella companies
• Proposals for bereavement leave and improved pregnancy-related protections
• Ending the exploitative use of Zero Hours Contracts (ZHCs)

Into Early 2026

• Expanded protections against blacklisting and detriment for industrial action
• Further tipping law reforms
• Updates to collective redundancy processes
• Greater access to flexible working

Timeline for Legislative Changes

Understanding the phased rollout of employment legislation is crucial for effective workforce planning and HR strategy development. Our comprehensive legislative timeline provides you with the strategic foresight needed to prepare your organisation for each regulatory milestone, ensuring seamless transitions that protect both your business interests and employee rights.

Following Royal Assent

Repeal of:

Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023

Majority of the Trade Union Act 2016

• Removal of the 10-year ballot renewal requirement for union political funds
• Simplified industrial action notice procedures
• Legal protections for employees participating in industrial action

From April 2026

• Doubling of protective award period in collective redundancy situations
• Day One rights for paternity leave and unpaid parental leave
• Enhanced whistleblowing protections
• Establishment of a Fair Work Agency
• Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) reform: removal of the lower earnings limit and waiting days
• Simplified union recognition and new options for electronic/workplace ballots

From October 2026

• Legislation to address fire and rehire
• Launch of Fair Pay Agreement Negotiating Body for Adult Social Care
• Introduction of two-tier procurement code

Employer obligations to:

• Inform staff about union rights
• Strengthen trade union access
• Take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment
• Prevent harassment by third parties

• New rights for trade union representatives
• Changes to tribunal time limits
• Additional protection against detriment for taking industrial action

From 2027

• Mandatory gender pay gap and menopause action plans (voluntary from April 2026)

Further enhancements for:

• Pregnant workers’ rights
• Sexual harassment prevention duties
• Regulation of umbrella companies
• Changes to redundancy consultation thresholds
• Expansion of bereavement leave
• Full implementation of ZHC protections (including for agency staff)
• Day One unfair dismissal protections across all sectors

What does this mean for you and your Business?

We understand that navigating employment law changes can feel overwhelming and we’re here to support you every step of the way.

These forthcoming reforms will fundamentally transform workplace dynamics and redefine employer obligations across virtually every industry. Whether your business operates in education, property services, engineering, logistics, or professional services, we recognise the unique challenges you face, and we’re committed to helping you:

• Understand the changes and how they apply to your specific workforce
• Update policies and procedures to stay legally compliant
• Train managers and HR teams on new obligations
• Plan proactively for upcoming deadlines and consultations

Next Steps

We know that staying on top of evolving legislation can be challenging, especially when consultations progress and new laws are introduced at both primary and secondary levels.

That’s why we’re committed to keeping you fully informed with the latest employment law updates in a way that’s clear and actionable for your business.

Our dedicated team understands the pressures you face and is here to provide supportive HR services that work around your schedule and priorities.

From personalised advice and comprehensive compliance checks to thorough policy reviews and detailed risk assessments, we tailor our approach to what matters most to your organisation.

Our HR Experts will become your trusted partner, helping you feel confident and prepared as you navigate the changing employment landscape at your own pace.