Guidance notes to prepare for April Employment Rights Act changes

The Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA) Employee Relations team is producing a series of guidance notes in the run-up to 6 April 2026, following changes that will come into effect as part of the Employment Rights Act.

The guidance notes are essential for employers to digest. They go into detail about each of the following changes and what employers must do as a result:

• Family leave: paternity leave and unpaid parental leave become day-one rights; restriction on taking paternity leave after SPL is removed.
• Statutory Sick Pay reform: payable from day one; Lower Earnings Limit removed.
• Electronic and workplace balloting introduced (enabling simple majority without the 50% turnout threshold).
• Trade union recognition process simplified.
• Collective redundancy: maximum protective award doubled to 180 days’ pay.
• Whistleblowing: sexual harassment becomes a qualifying disclosure (protection from detriment/unfair dismissal).
• Fair Work Agency (FWA) established to consolidate/enforce multiple employment rights.
• Gender pay gap & menopause action plans: voluntary plans expected from April 2026; mandatory from 2027, subject to regulations.

Here are the ‘Employer Essentials’ guidance notes that have been published so far:

Support is available via the ECA Employee Relations team.

There will also be upcoming Growth Hub courses on employment law changes. Watch this space for availability.

This article appears on the ECA news and blog site as "ECA Employer Essentials guidance notes available to prepare for April Employment Rights Act changes" dated 3 February, 2026.

--ECA

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