Updated
Updated · Littler Mendelson PC · Sep 18UK Employment Rights Act 2025 Brings October 2026 Harassment and Union Reforms
3 articles · Updated · Littler Mendelson PC · Sep 18Summary
- October 2026 marks the next phase of the UK Employment Rights Act 2025, with broad workplace reforms set to take effect.
- The changes include wide-ranging trade union provisions, expanding the law's impact on employer-employee relations.
- Employers also face stronger duties to prevent sexual harassment at work, alongside potential liability for harassment by third parties.
- The update builds on earlier guidance about autumn 2026 reforms and signals a significant compliance deadline for UK workplaces.
Insights
With massive fines hitting in just two weeks, are UK employers secretly terrified of the imminent third-party harassment liabilities? Will the October 2026 mandate for electronic balloting and workplace access completely shift the balance of power to trade unions? Could the sudden doubling of tribunal time limits this October trigger an unexpected avalanche of historic workplace claims?