The Employment Rights Bill what now for businesses?
A year has passed since the UK Government introduced the Employment Rights Bill to Parliament, promising the biggest shake-up of labour law in decades. With the bill now nearing Royal Assent, a lot has happened in the last 12 months.
Last year we hosted our “The Employment Rights Bill: what do employers need to know?” webinar to discuss the dozens policies of the Bill, including:
-
The removal of qualifying periods for key employment rights, including protection against unfair dismissal and paternity leave
-
A ban on ‘exploitative’ zero hours contracts
-
Steps to make flexible working the default
-
A ‘ban’ on fire and rehire
-
Widened eligibility for Statutory Sick Pay
-
Changes designed to make it easier for trade unions to gain access to workplaces, secure statutory recognition, and take industrial action.
With some measures due to take effect as soon as the bill receives Royal Assent and the rest being phased in from April 2026, business leaders need to start preparing for implementation.
Join Alex Hall-Chen (IoD Principal Policy Advisor for Employment), Jim Wright CDir (Employment Law Partner, Knights) and Ellie Jobes CDir FCIPD (HR Director, Bagnalls) for this timely lunchtime webinar where they'll discuss the latest updates on the Bill and what it means for employers.
Speakers
Alex Hall-Chen
Alex Hall-Chen is a Senior Policy Advisor at the Institute of Directors. She is a specialist in employment, skills, and sustainability policy. She previously worked in education research and as a Policy Advisor at the Confederation of British Industry.
Ellie Jobes CDir FCIPD CMIOSH
Ellie Jobes is the Group People Director at Bagnalls, the national painting contractor established in 1875, celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.
In her 14 years at Bagnalls, Ellie has shaped the company's people, learning and development, and health and safety strategies. Ellie also has experience within the voluntary sector, including as a charity trustee, and in education as a lecturer and school governor.
Under Ellie’s leadership, Bagnalls was honoured as Employer of the Year at the Yorkshire Business of the Year Awards 2025 and ranked 68th in the Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2025. This year, Bagnalls was also awarded a prestigious Princess Royal Training Award for their apprenticeship programme.
Ellie is a Chartered Director, a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, and a Chartered Member of IOSH.
Jim Wright CDir
Jim Wright CDir is a specialist employment lawyer and partner at Knights, the largest commercial law firm outside of London. Jim was the first solicitor in private practice to qualify as a Chartered Director and his business received the Queens Award for excellence in International Trade in 2020. Currently Vice President of the Interlegal network, Jim is also a member of the Employment Lawyer’s Association and a fellow of the IoD. Jim was consulted to draft the codes of practice on discrimination in employment and separately, equal pay by the 2010 Conservative government.
Join us
Connect with other directors, develop yourself and influence the people that matter.
Free registration with IoD
Stay up-to-date on issues that affect directors and get access to free resources.