A further wave of employment rights introduced under the Employment Rights Act 2025 comes into force today.
Trade union campaigning has delivered a transformative package of new rights. The April changes will improve statutory sick pay for millions of workers, enable more working parents to take leave and give more workers a voice at work, by making it easier for unions to get recognised by employers for the purposes of representation and negotiation.
But changes delivered by the ERA will go much further than just these protections, with wide ranging new rights coming into force in a staggered timetable. The first tranche of rights, which revoked large sections of anti-trade union legislation came into force on the 18 February 2026. Further rights are scheduled to come into force on October 6 2026, with many more to follow in 2027. Keep an eye on our Employment Rights Act homepage for further details.
Statutory sick pay
No more earnings threshold and no more waiting days. All eligible employees can receive Statutory Sick Pay regardless of how much they earn. From their first full day of sickness absence.
Day one rights to Paternity Leave or Unpaid Parental Leave
Currently there are lengthy qualifying periods before working parents become entitled to paternity and parental leave. Both types of leave will become "day one" rights. Employees will also be able take Paternity Leave and Pay after Shared Parental Leave and Pay (currently they can't).
Stronger protections...
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