The Employment Rights Act 2025 received Royal Ascent just before Christmas 2025 and creates a series of new rights for employees; these are being phased in from April 2026 giving an opportunity for GP partnerships to plan for these changes. Practices retaining HR support should ask for updates in terms of required staff policy changes, but I am highlighting the following significant changes.
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for all workers will be paid from the first day of illness, rather than the current fourth day, with the lower earnings limit for entitlement to SSP being removed.
- Paternity leave will be an entitlement from day 1 of employment, rather than available after 26 weeks employment.
- Ordinary (unpaid) parental leave is also available from day 1 of employment rather than after one year.
- Bereavement Leave, this is a new right and includes bereavement leave for pregnancy loss (before 24 weeks).
- Increasing the time limit within which employees can make an Employment Tribunal claim from the current three months to six months.
- Increasing employer responsibility to take “all reasonable steps” toprevent sexual harassment of employees, including by third parties. This also includes protections for whistleblowers who identify such harassment. GP Practices may note the recent NHS England guidance highlighted in a previous LMC letter which may assist practices in framing policies in relation to this issue, and our website.
- Expanding the right of employees to request flexible working and the “reasonableness” under which such requests can be denied.
- The qualifying period of unfair dismissal reduced from 2 years to 6 months, and removal of a cap on unfair dismissal awards.
There are also change in relation to Trade Union legislation, which whilst not affecting GP practices, directly, will affect, for example, how the BMA prepares for the future ballots.
The Government is also establishing a “Fair Work Agency”, which is designed to ensure compliance with SSP, holiday pay and minimum wage entitlements.
Given that these changes will undoubtedly impact on GP practices, Practice Business Managers should prepare in terms of amending /updating their internal procedures and disseminating these new arrangements to all staff and responsible managers.
Dr Julius Parker, Chief Executive