Experts say there is "nothing to fear" from Employment Rights Bill as employers back fairer workplace reforms

"Leading employment experts and major employers have said there is "nothing to fear" from the Government's Employment Rights Bill, arguing that the reforms will support fairer workplaces, boost productivity and bring the UK closer in line with international employment standards. The comments came during a roundtable held in Parliament on Tuesday 11 November - the same day new figures revealed unemployment had risen to 5%, the highest rate for a decade outside the pandemic period."

"Participants agreed that the Bill represents a long-overdue modernisation of the UK's fragmented employment law framework. While critics have suggested the legislation will place extra burdens on employers, attendees noted that many of the reforms - including day-one protection from unfair dismissal, enhanced sick pay and parental leave, and stronger anti-harassment measures - are already routine among responsible employers. The real challenge, experts argued, lies not in the reforms themselves but in the practical implementation, including updating HR systems, payroll processes and internal policies."

The Employment Rights Bill modernizes the UK's fragmented employment law framework. Reforms introduce day-one protection from unfair dismissal, enhanced statutory sick pay and parental leave, and stronger anti-harassment measures. A proposed nine-month statutory probationary period aims to balance employee protection with employer flexibility. Practical implementation requires updates to HR systems, payroll processes and internal policies. A staged, sector-by-sector rollout can ease the administrative burden on businesses. The reforms are intended to improve recruitment and retention, support worker wellbeing and productivity, and align UK employment standards more closely with international norms. Rising unemployment increases the urgency of cooperative labour-market responses.

Read at Business Matters