Episode 72: Employment Rights in 2025 – What Employers Need to Know

What do the latest employment law changes really mean for your business, and are you ready? Host: Mary Asante Guest: Amanda Trewhella, Freeths In this episode of HR Voices, Mary Asante is joined by employment lawyer Amanda Trewhella (Freeths) to break down the key changes under the Employment Rights Act 2025, and what HR professionals, employers, and managers need to be doing now to prepare. 🔍 In this episode, we cover: Changes to unfair dismissal rights (2 years ➝ 6 months from 2027) New day one rights (SSP, paternity leave, parental leave) Increased risk in redundancy consultations (protective awards doubling) Reforms to zero-hours contracts New duties around sexual and third-party harassment Updates to flexible working requests The requirement to inform employees of their right to join a trade union ⚠️ Why this matters These changes represent one of the biggest shifts in UK employment law in recent years — and they will require: updated policies and contracts stronger manager capability better employee relations practices proactive risk management 💡 Amanda’s top tips: Review and update your policies and processes now Train managers to handle issues early and effectively Start preparing ahead of the implementation timelines 🎧 Whether you’re an HR consultant, business owner, or people manager, this episode gives you a clear and practical overview of what’s changing — and how to stay ahead. 📩 Questions or topics for future episodes? Email: [email protected]