Event Summary

The Employment Rights Act 2025 has already made fundamental changes to employment law, and phased reforms will continue into 2027.

Incoming for 2027 are fundamental changes to unfair dismissal rules and qualifying periods, alongside new restrictions on fire-and-rehire practices. Further phased rollouts will address zero-hours contracts, flexible working, gender equality and menopause action plans, enhanced dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers, and expanded bereavement leave, including for pregnancy loss.

Join Westminster Insight’s timely Employment Rights Act Conference to reflect on the changes that have already taken effect and make sure you’re prepared for the next phase of reforms. Hear directly from UK employers on how they are ensuring compliance with the Act, and take away best-practice strategies from leading employment experts.

Have your questions answered by our legal expert who will take a deep dive into key changes of the Act including changes to Statutory Sick Pay and the duties to prevent sexual harassment. Benchmark your organisational readiness for the reforms taking place in 2027.

Gain a practical understanding of the forthcoming guaranteed hours and zero-hours reforms, including how they will affect contracts, workforce planning, agency labour and shift scheduling.

We will reflect on the repeal of minimum service level legislation and the strengthening of trade union rights, drawing practical lessons as the reforms become embedded. Hear how to navigate new protections against detriment for taking industrial action, union rights of access to workplaces, changes to recognition and derecognition balloting, and extended blacklisting protections. Strengthen documentation and evidence of decision-making in light of new restrictions on fire and rehire and changes to collective redundancy.

From January 2027 the unfair dismissal qualifying period will be reduced to 6-months and compensatory awards will be uncapped. Find out how these changes will affect workforce planning and onboarding. Managing probation is a vital part of the employee life cycle. You will learn how to handle early careers and performance within the new legal framework.

Discover how to prepare for gender equality and menopause action plans and embed inclusion into people strategy and governance. You will gain insight into pay gap reporting requirements and their implications for data collection and measuring progress.

You will hear how flexible working arrangements and family rights can be effectively managed through compassionate leadership policies and practices. Develop strategies that attract, support and retain working parents. Learn how to support leaders to make confident and compliant employment decisions through targeted training and development.

Join business leaders, HR professionals and senior leaders to gain expert insight and practical implementation guidance designed to help you maintain compliance and gain clarity on the next phase of the reforms.

Choose to attend in-person or join online.

Key Points

  • Understanding the upcoming reforms in the Employment Rights Act
  • Reflecting on key learnings from reforms that have already taken effect
  • Preparing for guaranteed hours and reforms to zero-hours contracts
  • Best practice examples of implementation and practical strategies to apply now
  • Priorities and role of the Fair Work Agency
  • Practical lessons as trade union reforms are embedded and looking ahead to future changes
  • Managing probation and onboarding in light of changes to the unfair dismissal qualifying period, fire and rehire and collective redundancy practices
  • Preparing for gender and menopause action plans – embedding inclusion into people strategy and governance
  • Implications of flexible working and family rights on management policies and practices
  • Upskilling your workforce – moving from reactive to proactive change

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Group discounts

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