About the Employment Rights Act 2025
The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces new rights for employees across sectors, with significant reforms for adult social care, including:
- Guaranteed hours for workers previously on zero-hours contracts
- Fair Pay Agreements for adult social care, setting sector-wide pay and terms
- Stronger protections around dismissal, sick pay, and union access
Why it matters for providers
The Act is designed to improve job security and workforce stability, which impacts rostering, contracts, and operational budgets. Providers will need to prepare for both immediate policy changes and longer-term Fair Pay Agreement implementation.
Consultations and provider input
The government has launched the following consultations and providers are encouraged to participate:
- Enhanced dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers. Legislation which will make it unlawful to dismiss pregnant women, mothers on maternity leave, and mothers who return to work for at least a 6-month period after they return – except in specific circumstances. Closes 15 January 2026.
- Leave for bereavement, including pregnancy loss. A new day-one right to unpaid bereavement leave for employees who experience the loss of a loved one, including pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. Closes 15 January 2026.
- Fair Pay Agreement. The consultation invites feedback on:
- who and what should be covered by a fair pay agreement
- how the negotiation process could work
- how disputes could be resolved
- how the fair pay agreement could be implemented and complied with.
This consultation does not seek views on the outcome of any fair pay agreement. Any level of pay or new terms and conditions will be agreed through the bargaining process. Closes 16 January 2026.
- Trade union right of access. A new framework for trade unions to access workplaces physically, and to communicate with workers in person or digitally. Closes 18 December 2025.
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Down Syndrome Act 2022 draft statutory guidance. This consultation seeks views on the draft statutory guidance issued under the Down Syndrome Act 2022. Closes at
- Earned Settlement. The government is consulting on how the current settlement system should be reformed and how those reforms should be implemented. Closes at