The Employment Rights Act 2025 became law in December 2025, and it's being rolled out in stages rather than all at once. Some changes are already here. Since April 2026, Statutory Sick Pay applies from day one, paternity and unpaid parental leave are day-one rights, the maximum protective award for failing to consult on collective redundancies has doubled to 180 days, and sexual harassment now counts as a whistleblowing disclosure. The bigger shifts are still ahead. Here's wh

Employment law is continuing to shift towards greater employer responsibility — especially for SMEs. Here are the key changes to be aware of, and how to prepare without overcomplicating things. What’s changing Stronger duty to prevent sexual harassmentEmployers are now expected to take proactive steps — not just react to complaints. Flexible working expectationsRequests can be made from day one, and decisions must be handled consistently and reasonably. Greater scrutiny of pe