The Work Couch: April 2026 employment law changes: Actions to take NOW!

Welcome to The Work Couch, the podcast where we discuss all things employment.

Host Ellie Gelder is joined by Charlotte White, partner, and Ramina Krivich, trainee solicitor, both from our Employment, Engagement & Equality team, who share their insights on:

• Statutory sick pay reforms and the practical steps employers can take to prepare;
• The establishment of the Fair Work Agency and how this will impact compliance procedures, litigation risk and settlement negotiations, and record-keeping;
• The doubling of the collective redundancy protective award period and how this could affect decisions on restructures and how consultation is undertaken;
• Trade union-related reforms and navigating a new landscape for employee relations;
• The extension of whistleblowing protections;
• Family-friendly changes; and
• Top tips to ensure business readiness for the April 2026 reforms.

The Work Couch will bring you more updates on the Employment Rights Act (ERA) as they develop. In the meantime, you can keep on top of all of the 25 plus employment law reforms introduced by the ERA - as well as access key watch-outs – by signing up to our ERA tracker, a free resource which is regularly updated by the Employment, Engagement & Equality team.

For a more detailed discussion on the family-friendly changes introduced by the ERA, listen to our previous Work Couch episode with Joanna Holford and Megan Latham here.

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All information is correct at the time of recording. The Work Couch is not a substitute for legal advice.

References

1. Next Steps to Make Work Pay
2. Employment Rights Act 2025