Countdown to April: Strategic HR Prep for the New Employment Rights Act

Hosted in partnership with Hays Human Resources

The landscape of UK employment law is about to undergo one of the most significant shifts in a generation and HR professionals need to be ready. With major reforms under the Employment Rights Act 2025 coming into force from April 2026, employers face a year of rapid change, heightened compliance obligations, and increasing scrutiny across all aspects of the employment lifecycle. HR teams who prepare early will not only remain compliant, but will set their organisations up for smoother change, better employee experience, and reduced legal exposure.

Who should attend?

This engaging, practical and forward‑looking session is designed specifically for HR leaders, business partners and talent specialists.

Key topics will include:

This event will cut through the noise and focus on what matters most for your organisation, what is changing, when it’s changing, and how to stay ahead of the curve.

• Day‑one rights to paternity leave and unpaid parental leave, removing the historical 26‑week qualifying periods
• Statutory sick pay payable from day one, and the removal of the lower earnings limit
• Enhanced whistleblowing protection, explicitly covering disclosures relating to sexual harassment
• Changes to union recognition, electronic balloting, and workplace access rights
• Annual increases to statutory maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and neonatal pay, effective 6 April 2026
• The doubling of the protective award for failures in collective consultation to 180 days’ pay

Why attend?

2026 isn’t “business as usual.” It’s a rapid, phased overhaul of UK employment law. This session will offer HR professionals:

• A clear understanding of all April 2026 law changes and what must be implemented in advance
• A strategic overview of future reforms expected across 2026–27
• Practical steps for updating policies, contracts, pay frameworks and people processes
• Guidance on reducing risk in a year expected to see increased tribunal claims and heightened enforcement activity
• Insight into how HR teams can prepare early, build capability and ensure their organisations remain compliant, fair and future‑ready

Accessibility

We want everyone to feel welcome and take part in our event. If you have any special accessibility requirements, please get in touch.