We’re continuing to keep a close eye on the progress of the Employment Rights Bill through Parliament and into law. So, where have we got to so far?
Latest developments
The draft bill was expected to complete its progress through Parliament at the end of October 2025. However, the House of Lords threw a spanner in the works by voting to send further amendments to the bill back to the House of Commons. Perhaps most significantly, the Lords wanted to see the qualifying period of unfair dismissal reduced from 2 years to 6 months, rather than it being removed entirely. The Commons continues to resist these amendments and so the parliamentary ‘ping pong’ continues for now.
At the same time as all this is going on, the Government has published 4 consultation papers on the following:
With measures such as these, the devil is in the detail. These consultation exercises are intended to help the Government work out exactly how best to implement these new employment rights.
Want to know more?
If you want to know more about the Employment Rights Bill and what it means for our future employment laws, please come along to our upcoming Employment Law Breakfast Briefing at the Sandman Signature London Gatwick Hotel on the morning of 25 November 2025. Further details are available here.
James qualified as a solicitor in 2001, having completed his academic studies at the University of Sheffield. Throughout his career, he has worked for a number of prestigious regional law firms, joining stevensdrake as Head of Employment Law in 2012.
As well as pursuing and defending the full range of Employment Tribunal claims, James spends a considerable amount of his time providing advice and support to businesses of various sizes. He advises on a wide variety of HR and employment law issues, including employment contracts, HR processes and procedures, grievances, disciplinary issues, absenteeism, performance management and settlement agreements. He also regularly helps clients with redundancy exercises and internal reorganisations.
James has previously been described as an ‘Associate to Watch’ by Chambers UK, an independent guide to the legal profession. His clients regard him as “thorough”, “easy to work with” and someone who avoids blinding them with legal jargon.
Outside of work, James balances family life with ambitions of swimming, running and cycling a bit faster.
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