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UK Passes Employment Rights Bill: Key Worker Protections Enhanced

12/19/2025

Summary

Story summary

The Employment Rights Bill (ERB) has become law in the United Kingdom.
It introduces a six-month wait for unfair dismissal protection and grants day-one rights to statutory sick pay, paternity leave, and bereavement leave.
It allows guaranteed hours on zero-hours contracts.
It strengthens trade union rights and collective redundancy consultations, with changes in 2026 and 2027, and critics arguing fire-and-rehire provisions remain insufficient for public sector workers.

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Story summary

The Employment Rights Bill (ERB) has become law in the United Kingdom.
It introduces a six-month wait for unfair dismissal protection and grants day-one rights to statutory sick pay, paternity leave, and bereavement leave.
It allows guaranteed hours on zero-hours contracts.
It strengthens trade union rights and collective redundancy consultations, with changes in 2026 and 2027, and critics arguing fire-and-rehire provisions remain insufficient for public sector workers.