Industrial Action & Union Changes
- Automatic unfair dismissal protection for participation in industrial action (removal of the 12‑week limit)
- Streamlined rules for industrial action notices, ballots and picketing
Sick Pay & Family Leave Reforms
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) payable from day one (instead of day four)
- Removal of the minimum earnings threshold for SSP and several family‑related leave payments
- Extended statutory paternity leave and expanded shared parental entitlements
Unfair dismissal Reform and Wider Worker Protections
New statutory protections covering:
- Removal of the unfair dismissal compensation cap
- Reduction of the qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims from two years to six months – effective 1 January 2027
- Sexual harassment- including whistleblowing‑level protection
- Strengthened flexible working rights
- Protection from ‘fire and rehire’ practices
- Extended tribunal claim time limits (from 3 to 6 months)
Please note that some dates and decisions are open to change due to extended consultation periods.
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