Preparing for Change
What the Employment Rights Bill Means for You and Your Business
The UK’s Employment Rights Bill is one of the most ambitious updates to workplace law in decades - described by the Government as “the biggest upgrade in employment rights for a generation.” It’s part of the wider Plan to Make Work Pay, a mission designed to help more people stay in work, improve productivity and raise living standards.
At Moco Coaching, we see this not just as a legal update - but as a cultural and leadership opportunity. The Bill is all about fairness, flexibility, wellbeing and purpose - values that sit right at the heart of what we teach and coach.
What Is the Employment Rights Bill About?
This sweeping legislation was shaped in collaboration with both businesses and trade unions. Its aim? To make work work better - for everyone.
The Bill focuses on five major areas:
Ending one-sided flexibility
Ensuring fair pay and working conditions
Supporting family-friendly policies
Prioritising equality and wellbeing
Improving enforcement and accountability
Key Reforms Employers Need to Know
1️⃣ Ending Exploitative Practices
The Bill will end exploitative zero-hours contracts, giving workers rights to:
Guaranteed hours and reasonable notice of shifts
Compensation for short-notice cancellations
Stronger protections for agency workers
It also bans “fire and rehire” tactics except in exceptional circumstances and makes unfair dismissal a “day-one” right, replacing the current two-year threshold. However, employers can still use a fair probationary period to assess fit - a balanced approach that supports both accountability and inclusion.
2️⃣ Ensuring Fair Pay for a Fair Day’s Work
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will be strengthened - no lower earnings limit and no waiting days.
A Fair Pay Agreement process will be introduced in the adult social care sector.
Employers will be required to consult staff about tipping policies.
A new Fair Work Agency will be created to enforce laws around pay, working conditions and exploitation.
This signals a shift from compliance to conscience - it’s about ethical leadership, transparent pay structures and valuing people properly.
3️⃣ Making Work More Family-Friendly
The Bill expands flexibility and security for working parents:
Day-one rights to Paternity and Unpaid Parental Leave
Bereavement leave for anyone grieving a loved one
Stronger protections for pregnant women and returning mothers (for up to six months post-return)
Stronger right to request flexible working - and employers must reasonably justify any denial
Flexibility is no longer a perk - it’s a standard. Forward-thinking leaders can use this as an opportunity to embed trust-based culture and better work-life integration.
4️⃣ Prioritising Equality, Wellbeing and Inclusion
Employers will face a higher duty of care to prevent sexual harassment and ensure psychological safety in the workplace. They’ll also need to:
Take “all reasonable steps” to prevent harassment (including by third parties)
Strengthen whistleblower protections - including for sexual harassment
Develop gender pay gap action plans
Support employees experiencing menopause
This goes beyond compliance - it’s about cultural maturity. Leaders who prioritise psychological safety and empathy build teams that are more engaged, innovative and loyal.
5️⃣ Stronger Accountability and Enforcement
A new Fair Work Agency will:
Enforce minimum wage, agency rules and holiday pay
Investigate exploitation and issue penalties
Support workers directly in bringing cases
Tribunal claim windows will double from 3 to 6 months and umbrella companies will be regulated for the first time.
Expect more oversight - and more incentive to do things right the first time. Integrity-driven leadership is becoming a competitive advantage.
What This Means for Small Businesses and Coaching Practices
You don’t need to be a large employer for this to matter. Many of these reforms - from sick pay to flexible work - apply to all organisations, including small teams, partnerships and coaching networks.
At Moco Coaching, we encourage our clients to see this as a chance to:
Audit their workplace culture and policies
Strengthen their wellbeing and inclusion strategy
Improve clarity around contracts, boundaries and communication
Lead with empathy and fairness - not just obligation
Change is coming - but those who plan ahead will thrive through it.
How MoCo Coaching Can Help You Prepare
We help leaders and teams adapt consciously to change - not just by ticking compliance boxes, but by evolving the human systems that underpin performance and trust.
Here’s how you can get started:
✅ Audit your policies - contracts, leave and wellbeing policies
✅ Communicate clearly - bring your team along the journey
✅ Lead with empathy - embed listening, flexibility and fairness
✅ Invest in learning - use this as a springboard for growth
Our Leadership Coaching and Wellbeing Programmes support organisations through exactly this kind of transition - turning legislative shifts into opportunities for stronger culture and sustainable performance.
The Employment Rights Bill isn’t just about law - it’s about modern leadership. It’s about workplaces that are more human, fair and resilient.
At Moco Coaching, we believe that when businesses evolve with empathy, they don’t just comply - they lead the way.
Change can be challenging - but it’s also the moment we define who we are as leaders.