Glossary · UK
What is Employment Rights Bill?
Wide-ranging UK employment law reform covering day-one unfair dismissal rights, guaranteed hours for zero-hours workers, stronger sick pay and stronger protections against harassment and unfair fire-and-rehire.
Full Definition
The Employment Rights Bill is the government's flagship package of UK employment law reform, described as the biggest overhaul of workers' rights in a generation. Its measures include making protection from unfair dismissal a day-one right (removing the previous two-year qualifying period, subject to a lighter-touch probationary process), a 'guaranteed hours' right for zero-hours and low-hours workers reflecting their regular working pattern, removal of the waiting period and lower earnings limit for Statutory Sick Pay, stronger protection against 'fire and rehire' practices used to force through contract changes, enhanced rights around flexible working requests, stronger protections against sexual harassment (including a duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent it), and extended rights to bereavement and paternity leave. Because the reforms are extensive and affect employers of all sizes, the government has committed to phased implementation with consultation on the detailed rules for many provisions, rather than bringing every change into force simultaneously — employers should check the current implementation timetable for the specific right in question.