From 1 October 2026, time limits within which an employee may make a claim to an employment tribunal will increase from 3 months to 6 months, in line with the time limit for statutory redundancy and equal pay claims.
Further details can he found here
From 30 October, subject to parliamentary approval, independent trade unions will have a new right to access workplaces and engage with workers, either in-person or digitally. This will apply to employers with 21 or more workers (including employees and agency workers).
Key details of the new access rights
Access may involve union officials physically entering the workplace, communicating with workers digitally, or a combination of both
The legislation permits access for the purposes of recruitment, representation, and facilitating collective bargaining
Unions can request access even if they have no existing members or formal recognition in that workplace
Employers have 15 working days to respond to a request and 25 working days to negotiate terms before matters can be referred to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC).
Further details can be found here:
Updated: Sep 30
The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a new obligation for employers to provide workers with a written statement informing them of their statutory right to join a trade union.
The new duty was due to come into come into force on 30 October 2026 but the Government confirmed on 25 September 2026 that the new duty is now intended to come into force on 1 January 2027.
Employers will be required to issue the written statement to new workers at the start of employment alongside their written statement of employment particulars, and at other prescribed times.
This requirement applies regardless of whether your organisation currently recognises a trade union or has union members.
Employers should ensure their onboarding and HR processes are updated accordingly.
What should employers do now?
Review recruitment and onboarding documentation
Update HR policies and procedures
Prepare a compliant worker notification
Train HR teams and managers on the new requirements.