Employment Rights Act Hub

VODG continues to be around the table with policy makers on the Fair Pay Agreement and other changes to employment rights, ensuring the perspective of VCFSE organisations providing care and support for disabled people is fully represented in the process.

VODG continues to inform plans for a Fair Pay Agreement for Adult Social Care, through the Care Provider Alliance and by bringing VODG members together in an Employment Rights Sounding Board.

The government has responded to the draft code of practice consultation setting out its position on enforcement, employer commitments and proportionality.

In this update we flag our Employment Rights Sounding Board meeting, share developments on the Casey Commission, the Health Bill and what follows the Prime Minister’s resignation. We also cover party conferences, opportunities to input into our response on the mental health strategy, and a range of sector news.

The Government is currently seeking views on the employment rights that are available to people with unpaid caring responsibilities and parents who have a seriously ill child. Closing date 1 September 2026.

This week’s Trowers Tuesday will explore the consultation that was recently released on the zero hours workers provisions under the Employment Rights Act 2025 and what it means for employers.

VODG will be working with our Employment Rights Act Sounding Board to draft a joint response. Details to follow. Closing date 25 August.

Anthony Collins has produced two helpful blogs about the consultation on the proposed guaranteed hours offer regime and right to reasonable notice and short notice compensation for shifts, noting that with many details unconfirmed, there is opportunity for employers to respond regarding issues that will arise both operationally and administratively with the proposed changes.

The consultation invites views on how new rights established by the Employment Rights Act 2025 should be implemented, including guaranteed hours, reasonable notice of shifts and the right to short notice payments.

New trade union workplace access rights, processes, guidance and enforcement under Employment Rights Act 2025.

The new Agency will bring together enforcement of key employment rights under a single body, marking a significant shift in the regulatory landscape. Trowers Tuesday look at its proposed role and powers, and the areas it is expected to focus on.

In this update: call to action to engage with ICB leads on neighbourhood health, the Independent Expert Panel on transitions, and a busy week for employment rights and SEND in Parliament.

Employment Rights Act reforms reshape social care employment through stronger unions, worker protections, collective bargaining.

Overview of upcoming UK employment law reforms, timelines, consultations, and new employer equality reporting duties.

This month's round-up of HR law news from Trowers & Hamlins includes a comprehensive update on forthcoming changes to legislation associated with the Employment Rights Act, along with other notable developments including guidance on developing gender equality action plans.

Trowers & Hamils provides updates on HR law, including National Minimum Wage, Employment Rights Act 2025, bereaved partner's paternity leave and Fair Work Agency.

The government is introducing a new statutory code of practice to support the new legal framework for trade unions and employers when negotiating trade unions’ access into workplaces. This new code will be the main source of practical guidance on the new statutory access framework. This consultation closes at 23:59 on 20 May 2026.

This month's edition provides updates on a slew of recent government consultations alongside results of a survey published by ACAS on the expected impacts of the Employment Rights Act 2025.

The latest update includes the Schools White Paper, an opportunity to comment on national regulation of AI in healthcare and an update on our engagement with government on employment rights.

Acas, the independent public body responsible for improving employment relations and conciliation services, is set to form an important part of the Government’s Plan to Make Work Pay, assisting employers with implementing measures in the Employment Rights Act.

As part of its ongoing activity in support of the Employment Rights Act, the Department for Business and Trade is seeking views on reform of non-complete clauses in employment contracts.

A hub outlining Employment Rights Act consultations, draft regulations, timelines and key implications.

From April 2026, SSP will undergo significant reform due to the Employment Rights Act. The Care Provider Alliance is hosting a webinar on 26 February, 14.00-15.30 with the DWP and Anthony Collins Solicitors.

This edition features new regulations around Bereaved Partner's Paternity Leave, along with an update on The Employment Rights Act 2025 and an Acas consultation on a draft updated Code on time off for trade union duties and activities.

The next tranche of consultations linked to employment rights have been published, this time focusing on fire and rehire, trade union recognition, agency work and flexible working.

The plan provides an updated timeline for the government’s plan to implement various aspects of the Employment Rights Act including those that come into effect on 18 February and 6 April 2026.

Draft regulations outline up to 52 weeks’ paternity leave for bereaved partners from April 2026.

With the Employment Rights Act 2025 now in place, 2026 will be a busy year as the measures contained within it begin to come into force. Trowers & Hamlins provides a useful summary of the key dates and details.

This week’s Trowers Tuesday will look at practical steps for implementing the new rules on family leave, statutory sick pay, minimum wage, and industrial relations, as well as planning ahead for the October reforms, including the ban on ‘fire and rehire’ and the new harassment prevention duty.

With thanks to our FPA and Employment Rights Sounding Board, we submitted our response to the FPA last week. If you would like to see a copy, please do get in touch. The Easy Read version of the consultation remains open until 6 March 2026 if you have yet to respond but would like to.

The first Trowers Tuesday of 2026 will provide a round-up of the key changes introduced by the Employment Rights Act and what they mean for employers in 2026.

HR Law from Trowers & Hamlins leads with the passing of the Employment Rights Act, and also features The Border Security Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 and the Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Act 2024 along with new case law.

This consultation on the government’s new employment rights legislation closes 15 January 2026.

This consultation is part of the ongoing consultation on employment rights and new legislation coming in. Consultation closes 15 January 2026.

New rights confirmed including day one paternity leave and parental leave, statutory sick pay, protections for pregnant workers, increased protection from unfair dismissal, an end to exploitative zero hours contracts, and a new right to bereavement leave. Government to continue work with business and workers on how reforms are implemented, with changes introduced gradually over a two-year period.

Summary of the Employment Rights Act 2025 outlining key changes, timelines and forthcoming consultations.

Delphi Care shares practical insights on UK Employment Rights Bill reforms and preventing workplace harassment.

Publication of correspondence between six key business organisations and the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the Employment Rights Bill, calling for the Bill to be passed as soon as possible.

We have worked directly on seven Bills and contributed to many more, including the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools, Mental Health, Employment Rights, Immigration and Visas, National Insurance Contributions, Planning and Infrastructure, and Universal Credit Bills.

We submitted over fifteen responses to government consultations and inquiries on topics including housing, pay and employment rights, regulatory frameworks, professional standards, funding and welfare reform.

VODG led on key policy issues this year, including pay, employment rights, digital care, healthcare, welfare, housing, and pandemic readiness.

Join VODG partner, Delphi Care Solutions, for a webinar on long-term changes in employment law and how they could affect your organisation, what you need to action now, and what you need to plan for in the future.

The December edition of HR Law from Trowers & Hamlins focuses on the latest developments around the Employment Rights Bill, and the scrapping of the day one right to bring an unfair dismissal claim. Also included, increases to the national minimum wage and other statutory payments, and the final report of the Mayfield Review

In case you missed it, resources including the recording of the Care Provider Session on the Employment Rights Bill are now available online, including contributions by Anthony Collins, VODG and others.

Join Trowers Tuesday to discuss the Employment Rights Bill and how the cases impact on workplace practices, and hear guidance on how these decisions affect your organisation's obligations and risk management strategies.

Trowers & Hamlins has produced a factsheet for VODG members on the proposed changes in the Employment Rights Bill, key dates and actions to consider.

VODG is contributing to this Care Provider Alliance webinar with Anthony Collins Solicitors on Monday 1 December at 15.00, to share more information on the Employment Rights Bill, practical implications for workforce planning, HR and contractual arrangements, and current ERB consultations to engage with.

This webinar provides an opportunity to help providers understand the Bill, clarify some of the practical implications for workforce planning, HR policies, and contractual arrangements, and outlines the current consultation topics.

In this issue Trowers & Hamlins discusses the “ping pong” over the Employment Rights Bill, government consultations, employment tribunal fees, the Acas Early Conciliation period and the EHRC Services Code.

Trowers Tuesday will explore the key proposals in the Employment Rights Bill and share practical insight to help business and HR leaders stay informed and responsive in a changing legal landscape.

The government has published a series of factsheets in relation to the legislative changes coming through the Employment Rights Bill. The latest is on changes to trade unions.

The government has published a roadmap for the delivery of the Bill, which outlines upcoming consultations and the phases when different measures will take effect. Trowers Tuesday will explore timing and priorities, which changes are coming first, and what this means for employers.

This month’s edition focuses on the progress of the Employment Rights Bill, and also includes thoughts on why EDI remains vital for attracting and retaining talent, recent case law and 'The UK's Modern Industrial Strategy'.

The Roadmap provides clarity for employers and workers on how and when Government will engage and consult on the detailed implementation of Bill measures once it becomes law, and when measures will take effect.

This online event with DHSC will provide an overview of the Fair Pay Agreement (FPA) for adult social care. Learn what the FPA means for the sector and how it links to the Employment Rights Bill.

Priorities for the year ahead include being data driven to inform the development and maintenance of the right skills training, simplifying access to skills and mobilising local partners and employers to help shape local training offers.

This week's Trowers Tuesday will be discussing the law and best practice advice on capability management, including the proposed introduction of 'statutory' probationary periods in the Employment Rights Bill.

The May edition of HR Law from Trowers & Hamilins leads with a discussion of the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of "woman" and "sex", and what it means for employers. Other topics include the new right to neonatal care leave and pay and equality law reforms.

This new campaign aims to help employers build more diverse workforces, understand how to use values-based recruitment approaches and create welcoming environments that make people want to stay in adult social care.

The latest edition covers VODG’s view of the Immigration White Paper, the Employment Rights Bill, the Casey Commission, Reframing Commissioning, and more.

The April edition of HR Law from Trowers & Hamlins focusses on the Employment Rights Bill, which is now under scrutiny in the House of Lords. Other significant developments, new case law and more are all discussed too.

This week the government tabled various amendments to the bill, as well as responding to the four consultations published last Autumn. Trowers Tuesday will discuss the updates and answer questions.

The Government has published responses to previous consultations on the Employment Rights Bill alongside tabling amendments on zero hours contracts, trade union recognition and statutory sick pay.

Economic pressures and a changing legal landscape, mean many businesses are saying they are more likely to accelerate changes to T&Cs due to the impact of the forthcoming Employment Rights Bill. Trowers Tuesday discusses restructures.

Trowers & Hamlins’ HR Law includes a reminder on avoiding improper behaviour in pre-termination negotiations, The Employment Rights Bill, statutory sick pay and family friendly pay, the Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance plus new case law.

Based on feedback from our members, VODG submitted a short response to two of the consultations linked to the Employment Rights Bill, on Statutory Sick Pay and Zero Hours Contracts.

There are a number of consultations currently open linked to elements of the employment rights legislation going through Parliament. These include a focus on sick pay, industrial relations and zero hours contracts. If you would like to inform our responses please get in touch.

This session will be looking at the status quo, the recently introduced code of practice, and the proposal in the Employment Rights Bill to heavily restrict fire and re-hire and what this means for employers.

New series of Trowers Tuesday webinars, which look at the Government's radical plans to change the workplace, introducing the biggest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation.

Trowers and Hamlins examine what the Employment Rights Bill says and whether it represents "the biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation" as the government claims.

The government has published the Employment Rights Bill, the cornerstone of its ‘Make Work Pay’ vision. VODG has published a short member-only summary of key announcements so far and will continue to monitor progress of the Bill.

October edition includes fire and re-hire, day one rights and unfair dismissal, updated guidance, new case law and the HR Hub for employment law insights and resources.

Campaign from Skills for Care focusing on helping social care providers to keep the right people working for them, providing information and resources to help employers understand what they can do to retain staff.

Skills for Care and local stakeholders have combined forces to provide Adult Social Care employers with the right tools to offer safer recruitment practices when considering the hiring of candidates with a criminal record.

Trowers Tuesday session on the incoming changes to family friendly and flexible working rights including best practice and top tips for employers.

The next Trowers Tuesday will look at right to work processes, sponsorship options and supplementary employment, plus all things recruitment.

Among the findings in the EHRC report is evidence that the employment gap between disabled people and non-disabled people has narrowed. However, the earnings gap has increased.

The experience of social care workers, and the enforcement of employment rights in the sector.