What changed, when it bites, and what it costs.
The biggest overhaul of British employment law in a generation is landing in stages — and most of it lands on businesses with no HR department. We read the legislation so you don't have to, and we tell you what a business your size actually has to do.
Plain English. No clause numbers. Written for owners, not lawyers.
70,000+
Employment tribunal claims are sitting open — the highest number ever recorded, up 51% in a year. 71% involve businesses with fewer than 50 employees. That's businesses like yours, already in the system. (Ministry of Justice, April–June 2026.)
6.3M
Employees newly covered by the 6-month unfair-dismissal rule from January 2027 — the largest single expansion of employment rights in the Act. Government economists expect around 3,000 extra tribunal claims a year as a result. (Government Economic Analysis, January 2026.)
Three dates. Everything else on this site hangs off them.
Employees have six months, not three, to bring most tribunal claims. Your record-keeping has to survive twice as long.
What it means for youA higher prevention duty — and for the first time, you're liable for harassment by third parties: customers, clients, contractors.
Act before 30 OctoberUnfair-dismissal qualifying drops from two years to six months. The compensation cap goes. Fire-and-rehire is restricted.
Prepare nowEvery change, its date, and the one action it needs — on a single checklist. Download it free, no email required.
Download freeSector playbooks, the 4-month probation system, the SSP cost method, and every template — the do-it-all pack for under-50-staff employers.
See what's insideDeep, plain-English guides on each change: the harassment duty, the 6-month tribunal window, day-one sick pay costs, and more.
Read the guidesEmployment Rights Guide is an independent information resource. Nothing on this site is legal advice, and nothing here creates a solicitor–client relationship. Employment law is fact-specific — if you're facing a live dispute, talk to a qualified employment solicitor. We link to gov.uk and Acas throughout so you can verify everything against the primary sources.