The ERA 2025 - a planning and readiness guide for employers

Navigating the

Navigating the Employment Rights Act 2025 - A planning and readiness guide for employers Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 Changes that took effect in April 2026 ..................................................................................... 2 Statutory sick pay ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Paternity leave ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Parental leave .......................................................................................................................................... 5 Holiday records ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Whistleblowing and sexual harassment .................................................................................................... 7 Trade union recognition ............................................................................................................................ 8 Collective redundancies ........................................................................................................................... 9 Changes in force from October 2026 ..................................................................................... 10 Protection from third party harassment ................................................................................................... 11 Protection against sexual harassment .................................................................................................... 12 Duty to inform your workers of their right to join a trade union ................................................................ 13 Rights for trade unions to access workplaces ......................................................................................... 14 Extension of employment tribunal time limits .......................................................................................... 16 Changes in force from January 2027 ..................................................................................... 17 Unfair dismissal ...................................................................................................................................... 18 Changing terms and conditions of employment ...................................................................................... 21

Navigating the Employment Rights Act 2025 - A planning and readiness guide for employers Introduction The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a wide-ranging suite of new protections for workers, marking a significant shift for employers of every size and sector. With reforms being phased in across 2026 and 2027 (and beyond), employers will need to review and update their approach to the full employment lifecycle. The required changes extend well beyond policy updates - recruitment practices, the design of reward and benefits packages, performance management frameworks, anti-harassment measures, workplace transformation initiatives, and approaches to industrial relations may all need revising. This planning and readiness guide is designed to support you with implementation. It provides an overview of the main reforms that came into effect in April 2026 and those that are set to come into force in October 2026 and January 2027, setting out: • the key legal changes you need to be aware of; • practical checklists to help you assess your current position and identify next steps; and • strategic considerations to help you plan and prioritise actions. Our aim is to help you navigate the reforms efficiently and confidently, ensuring your organisation is well-prepared for what lies ahead. If we can support you with any of the areas covered here, or with any other aspect of the Employment Rights Act 2025, please get in touch with one of us or with your usual Burges Salmon contact. Visit our Employment Rights Act hub Luke Bowery Partner and Head of Employment T +44 (0) 117 902 2716 M +44 (0) 7980 765 781 E luke.bowery@burgessalmon.com Kate Redshaw Head of Practice Development T +44 (0) 117 902 6610 M +44 (0) 7980 984 025 E kate.redshaw@burgessalmon.com Katie Wooller Professional Support Lawyer T +44 (0) 117 307 6298 M +44 (0) 7812 228 114 E katie.wooller@burgessalmon.com Burges Salmon 1