6th April 2026 - Further Employment Law Changes (In Brief)

What you need to have completed already:

From 6 April, a major wave of reforms came into force under the Employment Rights Act 2025, strengthening day‑one rights and increasing employer obligations. The headline changes require employers to update contracts, policies, and manager training to reflect the new April 2026 Employment Rights Bill changes. 

The changes include:

• Fair Work Agency established (new enforcement body with inspection powers and ability to bring a claim to an employment tribunal on behalf of an employee). 

• Day‑one entitlement to statutory sick pay (no waiting days, no lower‑earnings limit).

• Paternity leave becomes a day‑one right (no 26‑week qualifying period for leave entitlement).

• Unpaid parental leave becomes a day‑one right (no one‑year qualifying period).  

• New Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave introduced (up to 52 weeks unpaid).

• Extended redundancy protections for pregnant employees and those returning from family leave.

• Protective employment tribunal award for collective redundancy failures doubles (from 90 to 180 days’ pay). 

• Requirement to maintain annual holiday calculations and records for a minimum of 6 years.

Organisations also need to ensure that their HRIS, onboarding processes, and internal communications are updated so that managers apply these changes consistently and lawfully to avoid risk to businesses. This requires a careful review of all existing documentation such as your employee handbook and contracts of employment, clear communication to employees, and targeted training to ensure compliance by managers and leaders across the business.

How Amicus People can help:

We can review and update your employee handbook, contracts of employment, policies, employee communications and HR frameworks to ensure full compliance with the April 2026 legislative changes. 

We can also provide training for your employees and line managers, refresh your internal communications approach, and support you to embed these updates into everyday practice. Our approach ensures that your organisation remains compliant, confident, fully engaged and prepared to navigate the new legal landscape.

Further changes are coming in October 2026 which you'll need to prepare for!

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