Be Aware UK

News and views from DLA Piper's Employment team

Be Aware brings together the latest insights from DLA Piper's UK Employment team, resources for employment lawyers and HR professionals including the current statutory rates and limits, 'how to' checklists and employment law changes coming up on the horizon. Be Aware gives you the tools you need to stay on top of the changing employment law landscape.

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The Employment Rights Act 2025

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Preparing for change

The Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA) represents the most significant overhaul of UK employment law in a generation. Its overall impact is to rebalance risk and flexibility in favour of workers, materially increasing employer financial exposure, compliance obligations and litigation risk. The changes will be phased in during 2026–27. 

Click here for the key changes →

Click here for the gov.uk implementation timetable→ 

Useful links

Employment Rights Act 2025

Employment Rights Act: Factsheets

On the horizon

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Our tracker contains an innovative traffic-light system to alert you to the current status of each development as well as one-click access to each of the relevant consultation papers and government responses. ‘On the horizon’ also provides instant access to relevant legislation, including draft Bills.

‘On the horizon’ is updated when new information is available and is, therefore, an invaluable resource to help you to keep abreast of the latest employment law reforms.

View tracker here

Checklists

Rates and limits

The latest employment-related statutory rates and limits are in the table below.
Category Value Applicable Date
Week's pay cap GBP751 6 April 2026 – 5 April 2027
Unfair dismissal
Basic award (max) GBP22,530 6 April 2026 – 5 April 2027
Compensatory award (max) GBP123,453 / 52 weeks' pay
Uncapped		 6 April 2026 – 31 Dec 2026
1 January 2027 onwards
Redundancy
Statutory redundancy payment (max) GBP22,530 6 April 2026 – 5 April 2027
Failure to inform and consult 180 days' gross pay From 6 April 2026
Maternity / Adoption pay GBP194.32 6 April 2026 – 5 April 2027
Paternity pay GBP194.32 6 April 2026 – 5 April 2027
Shared parental leave GBP194.32 6 April 2026 – 5 April 2027
Statutory sick pay GBP123.25 6 April 2026 – 5 April 2027
National minimum wage
21 and over GBP12.71 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2027
18–20 GBP10.85 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2027
16–17 GBP8.00 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2027
Apprentices GBP8.00 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2027
TUPE failure to inform 13 weeks' gross pay N/A

Inclusion

Positive action

Positive action comprises the permitted steps which can be taken by an employer to assist groups with certain protected characteristics who are disadvantaged or under-represented within a workplace. Read more information and relevant case law here.
Read more

Competing rights

Government initiatives, legal disputes, media coverage and public debate have established gender identity and transgender rights as a hot topic for the 2020s and, as always, where there is scope for different viewpoints, those differences can lead to conflict in the workplace. Read more information and relevant case law here.
Read more

Key contacts

Jane Hannon
Partner
UK Head of Employment

Related Capabilities

Employment