Acas survey highlights top Employment Rights Act 2025 challenges for employers

Acas says 30% cite day one sick pay, 27% day one paternity leave and 23% new unfair dismissal protections as the hardest changes. From 1 January 2027 unfair dismissal protection will apply after 6 months and the compensation limit will be removed.

Acas has published survey findings on the Employment Rights Act 2025. Employers identified the hardest changes to adopt under the new rules.

Thirty percent said paying statutory sick pay from the first day of illness would be the hardest change. Twenty seven percent said allowing paternity leave from the first day of employment. Twenty three percent cited new unfair dismissal protections that reduce the qualifying period from two years to six months.