Employment Rights Bill: what’s next?

• After a quiet committee stage, the Employment Rights Bill had a more tempestuous report stage, with government amendments that affect non-disclosure agreements, bereavement leave, fire and re-hire measures, and zero-hours and low-hours workers.
• The first wave of measures will take effect on 6 April 2026. But day-one unfair dismissal rights and new protections for zero-hours and reduced-hours workers will be deferred until 2027.

The Employment Rights Bill completed its report stage in the House of Lords on 23 July. After a highly technical committee stage, more substantive amendments were passed at the report stage, including some non-government amendments. The third reading took place on 3 September, and the Bill will now return to the Commons for the Lords’ amendments to be considered.

A quiet committee stage

When the lengthy committee stage ended on 24 June after ten days of sittings, it was widely assumed that the Bill was nearing its