HMRC as part of the February edition of the Employer Bulletin is reminding employers to get ready for the changes introduced as part of the Employment Rights Act.
The Employment Rights Bill became law on 18th December 2025 and is now the Employment Rights Act 2025.
Employers should start getting ready now for changes that are happening from 18th February 2026 and onwards.
The government has launched new employment rights: guidance for businesses and workers on the business.gov.uk website which provides timelines and information about the changes.
The act will be delivered in phases to ensure that employees and employers have time to plan and prepare.
Consultations
As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring this act delivers for workers and businesses alike, we are consulting on some of the detail in the act.
Make Work Pay provides a full list of the live consultations
Summary of the February and April changes
February 2026:
- Trade Union Measures: Simpler requirements for trade unions, including in relation to industrial action.
April 2026:
- Statutory Sick Pay: More employees will qualify, with no earnings threshold and no three-day waiting period.
- Day-one family leave: Employees entitled to Paternity Leave and Unpaid Parental Leave from the first day in a new job. Notice can be given from 18 February.
- Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave: New right to time off following the death of a child’s mother or primary adopter.
- Collective redundancy protections: Increase to the protective award for non-compliance.
- Whistleblowing protections: Stronger protections for workers who report sexual harassment.
- Simpler enforcement through the Fair Work Agency: A new body to uphold workers’ rights and support businesses with compliance.
PAYadvice.UK 12/2/2026 updated 18/2/2026