Employment Rights Act 2025: What’s coming in October 2026

With so many changes on the horizon, this key update gives businesses a valuable window to prepare before the new rules take effect.

Our associates, Reality HR (who are also members of the Shaw Gibbs Group), are hosting another webinar in their Employment Rights Act series.

Their January session on the ERA reforms was well received, and with the next wave of changes due in October 2026, Reality HR are holding a follow-up webinar to help businesses prepare.

The session will be led by Heidi Wadsworth, Head of Learning & Development at Reality HR, alongside Alex Harper, a Senior Employment Solicitor at Herrington Carmichael. Together, they’ll walk through the upcoming changes and what practical steps employers should be taking now.

Topics on the agenda:

• Sexual harassment duty – the legal standard is moving from “reasonable steps” to “all reasonable steps,” making thorough documentation and staff training essential.
• Third-party harassment – employers will be held liable for harassment of staff by customers, clients or suppliers, covering all forms of harassment unless reasonable preventative steps have been taken to prevent it.
• Longer tribunal time limits – claim windows will extend from three months to six, raising the risk of historic issues resurfacing.
• Trade union updates – a new requirement will oblige employers to tell workers about their right to join a trade union, plus further changes to trade union access and representative rights.
• A look ahead to 2027 – a brief overview of what’s coming next, including reforms to unfair dismissal, restrictions on fire and rehire, and new protections for zero and low-hours workers.

With so much change on the horizon, September gives businesses a valuable window to prepare before the new rules take effect.

Unable to attend on the day? It’s still worth registering, as Reality HR will send the recording and slides to everyone who signs up.

REGISTER HERE

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