Employment Rights Act

The Employment Rights Act sets out key UK workplace rights and employer duties, including contracts, pay, dismissal, redundancy, leave, and whistleblowing protections.

Morrish Solicitors have produced a video to explain how the reforms to the Employment Rights Act may affect exams managers and officers.

Overview

The Employment Rights Act is a central part of UK employment law. It defines many core protections for employees and, in some areas, workers. Recent reforms under the Employment Rights Act 2025 are intended to strengthen job security and modernise workplace protections.

Key Provisions

The Act covers the main stages of employment, including:

  • Written terms: clear employment particulars and contracts.
  • Pay: protection from unlawful wage deductions.
  • Notice and redundancy: rules on notice periods and redundancy payments.
  • Dismissal: protection from unfair dismissal.
  • Whistleblowing: safeguards for reporting wrongdoing.
  • Leave and flexibility: statutory sick pay, parental leave, and flexible working rights.
  • Workplace practices: reforms on zero-hours contracts, NDAs, and fire-and-rehire.

Recent Reforms

The 2025 reforms are being phased in from 2026 to 2027. Key changes include:

  • Creation of the Fair Work Agency.
  • Stronger duties to prevent harassment and promote equality.
  • Longer employment tribunal time limits.
  • Enhanced whistleblowing and statutory leave protections.

Practical Implications

For employers, the Act creates legal duties around contracts, pay, redundancy, dismissal, and workplace policies. Non-compliance can lead to tribunal claims, so employers should review contracts, update policies, and train managers. For employees, it provides a legal basis for fair treatment, secure pay, statutory leave, and protection when raising concerns. Overall, the Act remains the main framework for UK employment rights, with recent reforms expanding protections for modern workplaces.

 

Click here to view Morrish Solicitors Employement Rights Act changes video 

 

Video chapters

  • Introduction
  • 1 minute 30 seconds - Statutory sick pay: Day one rights
  • 2:32 - Whistleblowing protection including harassment
  • 3:52 - Family leave: Day one rights
  • 4:58 - Stronger protection around harassment
  • 6:42 - Time limits: More time to bring claims 
  • 8:11 - Unfair dismissal: Earlier protection
  • 9:43 - Flexible working: Harder for employers to refuse
  • 12:06 - Zero-hours and low-hours protections
  • 14:22 - Conclusion