Episode Details

In this episode of the HR Insights podcast, Stuart Elliott is joined by Paul Burton, employment solicitor at ViewHR, to explore the employment law changes that have already come into effect under the Employment Rights Act 2025.

The conversation breaks down some of the most significant developments affecting UK employers, including changes to statutory sick pay, day-one rights for paternity and unpaid parental leave, new whistleblowing protections relating to sexual harassment and increased penalties for failures in collective consultation.

Paul also explains the introduction of the Fair Work Agency and what its expanded enforcement powers could mean for organisations. From updating policies and procedures to strengthening manager training and absence management, the episode highlights why employers should treat these reforms as an organisational and people-management issue rather than simply a legal update.

This is the first of a two-part conversation. In part two, Stuart and Paul will look ahead at the further employment law changes expected to come into effect and what organisations can do now to prepare.

Key timestamps:

• 04:47 - Summary of the Employment Rights Act 2025
• 05:43 - Trade union reforms and industrial action changes
• 07:07 - Updates to sick pay and family rights
• 08:08 - Collective consultation and penalties for non-compliance
• 09:41 - Sector impact of new employment laws
• 10:14 - Details on the removal of the sick pay waiting period
• 11:18 - Importance of absence management and return-to-work interviews
• 13:25 - Paternity leave and parental rights from day one
• 18:04 - Sexual harassment protections under whistleblowing laws
• 27:21 - Introduction to the Fair Work Agency and its functions
• 30:20 - Implications of the Fair Work Agency for enforcement
• 31:09 - Advice for HR professionals and managers on legislative changes
• 32:37 - Training, support, and ongoing compliance strategies
• 33:36 - Conclusion and next steps for employers

View Transcript here

You can listen to and download HR Insights from Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps. Please subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available! You can also join our HR Community by following us on LinkedIn.

Thank you for listening and please do review and rate us wherever you listen!