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Regulatory Radar · United Kingdom · Labour

UK Employment Rights Act: next changes in October 2026 and January 2027

In force · updated 1 October 2026 · reviewed 23 October 2026 · UK
Next date: 30 Oct 2026

The Employment Rights Act 2025 is being phased in. Statutory sick pay from day one and the Fair Work Agency started in April 2026, and tribunal time limits extend to six months from 1 October 2026. On 30 October 2026 employers also face a duty to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment, liability for third-party harassment and a statutory union access regime. From 1 January 2027 the unfair dismissal qualifying period falls to six months and compensation limits are removed; zero-hours protections follow later in 2027 on a date not yet set.

For a parcel Higher employment cost and risk for labour-heavy sort and delivery operations, at a time when Royal Mail already cites National Insurance and wage rises.

Key dates

  • Done1 Oct 2026

    Employment tribunal time limits extended from three to six months Acas

  • 30 Oct 2026

    Duty to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment, employer liability for third-party harassment, statutory trade union workplace access, changes to recognition rules and extended protection for industrial action Morgan Lewis

  • 1 Jan 2027

    Unfair dismissal qualifying period cut to six months; protections on dismissal and rehire strengthened Acas

Add this rule's dates to your calendar

Every date of this rule, with what it means for a parcel and what to prepare. If a date moves, your calendar moves with it.

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Who it hits

Parcel operators with employed drivers and sort staffWarehouse and fulfilment operatorsAgencies and umbrella companies

What to prepare

  • Review probation, absence and peak hiring processes before the January 2027 change.
  • Ask carriers how the Act affects their cost base and 2027 rate proposals.

Our reading

The Act adds cost mainly to employed workforces such as Royal Mail's; networks relying on self-employed couriers are less exposed for now, pending the later zero-hours and wider measures.
UK £135 gap

Sources

  1. Employment Rights Act 2025 · Acas · 2026-10-01
  2. UK Employment Rights Act 2025: October reforms taking effect · Morgan Lewis · 2026-10-15
  3. New harassment and trade union-related rights and duties will come into force on 30 October 2026 · Stephenson Harwood · 2026-07-23

Information, not legal advice. Dates come from official texts or quality legal and trade press, and slip often: always check the current text before acting. Back to the full radar.

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