Employment Rights Bill – Dates for your diary

Lauren Ogden, Associate

• 21 October 2024: Second reading of the bill. Following formal introduction of the Bill at the first reading, this stage of the parliamentary process marks the first opportunity for MPs to debate the general principles of the Bill.  The process of debating and refining the bill begins here.
• Autumn 2024: The Government have already begun consulting on 4 areas of reforms laid out in the Employment Rights Bill. These are: (1) fire and rehire; (2) agency workers and zero-hour contracts; (3) the framework for industrial relations; and (4) statutory sick pay. These consultations are open until the 5 December 2024.
• 2025: A series of further consultations will take place as part of the process to introduce many of the bill’s reforms. These will involve discussions with all stakeholders including businesses, unions, and legal experts to refine the finer details of implementing the bill.
• No earlier than 2026: The Government have confirmed this is when they anticipate the majority of the reforms will begin to take effect.
• No sooner than Autumn 2026: The reforms to unfair dismissal are expected to take effect.