On October 10, 2024, the UK government unveiled its long-awaited Employment Rights Bill, marking the biggest reform of workplace laws in decades. This landmark legislation is set to affect over seven million workers, significantly altering recruitment and employment practices across the UK. While many reforms won’t take effect until 2026, they introduce substantial changes that both employers and employees must prepare for.

Key updates include day-one employment rights, such as protection against unfair dismissal and immediate access to statutory sick pay, eliminating the two-year qualifying period currently in place. However, to balance employer concerns, the bill also introduces a nine-month statutory probation period, allowing businesses more flexibility in assessing new hires.

Additional reforms focus on flexible working, which will become the default, placing the burden on employers to prove why a request cannot be accommodated. Moreover, workers on zero-hour contracts will gain more predictability, with guaranteed-hours contracts based on previous work and compensation for short-notice cancellations.

While unions have welcomed these changes as a significant improvement in worker protections, some business groups have voiced concerns about the administrative burdens and costs, particularly for smaller employers. The reforms will require careful planning and adaptation of current employment policies​.

At List Recruitment, we are fully committed to helping both our clients and candidates navigate these changes. Our team will provide expert guidance on how these new regulations impact hiring practices and workplace rights, ensuring that you remain compliant and well-positioned in this evolving landscape. We’ll be by your side every step of the way, offering support to adjust seamlessly to the new employment framework.

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