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ARTICLE · 24 FEBRUARY 2026

Employment Rights Act 2025: What Is The Current Timeline For Implementation?

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Now that the Employment Rights Act 2025 ('ERA 2025') has been passed, attention has turned to the implementation timetable. Here we bring you up to speed with the most recent announcements.

United KingdomEmployment and HR
Christina Morton
Christina Morton
Melissa Paz
Melissa Paz
Meriel Schindler
Meriel Schindler
Claire Christy
Claire Christy
Hugh More
Hugh More
Libby Payne
Libby Payne
James Hockin
James Hockin
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Now that the Employment Rights Act 2025 ('ERA 2025') has been passed, attention has turned to the implementation timetable. Here we bring you up to speed with the most recent announcements.

The Government published an updated implementation timeline for the ERA 2025 on 11 February 2026, revising in certain respects the original Employment Rights Bill roadmap published in July 2025.

Key changes to the original timetable include:

  • Pushing back the implementation of measures restricting dismissal and re-engagement in order to effect changes to contractual terms ('fire and rehire'). These reforms are now intended to take effect in January 2027, not October 2026 as announced last summer. They are potentially important changes that could affect all employers and on which the Government has recently started a consultation. For more information on that consultation see here.

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