This January 2026 edition focuses on the employment law reforms coming into force in April 2026 and what businesses can do to prepare. Our Employment Rights Act tracker will keep you up to date with developments on the new measures and the timetable for their implementation. We take a look at the possible reforms to non-compete clauses which the Government is considering, equal pay in Germany and what to expect in UK and Irish business immigration in 2026. We also include our usual round-up of news, our UK and EU horizon scanners, our EU Pay Transparency Hub and information on forthcoming events.
Prepare for change in 2026
Heralded as the biggest shake-up of employment rights for a generation, the Employment Rights Bill received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025, becoming the Employment Rights Act 2025.
Running to 160 sections, plus 12 schedules, and with subsidiary legislation to follow, the Act certainly covers a lot of ground. Royal Assent is only the first step for many of the provisions becoming law, however. In November last year the Government announced that it would launch 26 consultation exercises in relation to key provisions of the Act, before these would be finally implemented.
While Government says that it remains committed to its implementation timetable, the consultation timetable has slipped and we are awaiting, for example, consultations on fire and rehire, zero hours contracts and collective redundancy consultation.
Many important provisions are in force,...
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