The Employment Rights Bill is passed and receives Royal Assent

The Employment Rights Bill has successfully completed its final parliamentary stage and received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025, officially becoming the Employment Rights Act 2025.

The Prime Minister, Sir Kier Starmer, said that the development marked “a major victory for working people in every part of the country”.

The Bill will give workers increased rights, including day-one sick pay, new protections for pregnant women and new mothers, guaranteed hours for zero-hours workers, and unfair dismissal rights for those with just 6 months’ continuous service (down from 2 years currently).

The only substantive provision that comes into force today is the repeal of the provisions introduced by the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023.

We will continue to provide updates once we become aware of the precise implementation dates, so businesses can be best prepared for the changes coming in 2026 and beyond.

Contact our employment law solicitors today

If you have any questions or concerns about the updates provided above, please contact a member of our Employment Law team. You can use our online enquiry form or call 0330 191 5713.