What you need to know
The Employment Rights Act (ERA) introduces significant changes to UK employment law, with reforms coming into force in stages throughout 2026 and 2027. Employers of all sizes will be affected, although the impact of individual measures will vary depending on workforce size and employment practices.
While the Act is now law, much of the detail is still being developed through government consultations, regulations and Codes of Practice. FDF is closely monitoring these developments and engaging with government and other policymakers to ensure the practical implications for food and drink manufacturers are understood.
Scope and timeline of ERA reforms
If you’re an FDF member you can access to our ERA Tracker and Roadmap provide an overview of the scope of the reforms and when the key changes are expected to take effect:
ERA Roadmap – when changes will take effect
Our roadmap provides a visual guide to when the major ERA reforms are currently expected to come into force, helping businesses understand what is coming and plan ahead.
Member-only
ERA Tracker – overview of key measures
Our tracker provides an overview of the main measures in the Act, including what is changing, expected implementation dates, FDF’s position and which businesses are likely to be most affected.
Member-only
Implications for business
The Employment Rights Act (ERA) will have practical implications for food and drink manufacturers, depending on their workforce size, employment arrangements, and use of temporary, flexible or agency workers.
Businesses may need to:
- Review employment contracts, policies and staff handbooks
- Update recruitment, probation and people management processes
- Review arrangements for temporary, flexible and agency workers
- Prepare for changes to trade union rights and workplace access
- Update compliance, consultation and record-keeping processes
- Train HR teams and line managers
The reforms may affect workforce planning, operations and employment costs. Businesses should assess the wider impact and prepare for the changes as they take effect.
Employer Guidance
FDF members will have access to a range of practical guides and toolkits to help them understand the changes, prepare their businesses and take action as new requirements come into force.
FDF position papers
FDF members can access current consultation responses, position papers and archived submissions, providing insight into FDF's positions on employment policy and industrial relations issues.
Open government consultations
Closed consultations
- 2026
- Acas code of practice consultation
- Workplace Monitoring Technologies
- Guaranteed Hours Contracts - ESFE-040-26
- TUPE - ESFE-030-26
- Non-Disclosure Agreements - ESFE-029-26
- Code of Practice on Trade Union Access Rights - ESFE-023-26
- Collective Rendundancy Thresholds - ESFE-022-26
- Fire and Rehire - ESFE-021-26
- Trade Union Recognition - ESFE-020-26
- Flexible Working - ESFE-017-26
- Working paper on non-compete clauses – ESFE-006-26
- Code of Practice on electronic and workplace balloting - ESFE-001-26
- 2025
- Duty to inform workers of the right to join a trade union – ESFE-015-25
- Trade union right of access – ESFE-014-25
- Low Pay Commission consultation 2025 – ESFE-008-25
- Draft code of practice for electronic and workplace balloting – ESFE-003-25
- Mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting – ESFE-006-25
- 2024
- Collective redundancy and fire and rehire consultation – ESFE-016-25
- Consultation on creating a modern framework for industrial relations – ESFE-017-25
- Consultation on zero hours contracts – ESFE-018-25
- Response to Employment Rights Bill Public Bill Committee call for evidence – ESFE-019-25
- Response to House of Commons Business and Trade Select Committee inquiry into Make Work Pay – ESFE-020-25
Get involved
FDF members can join our Employment Group to discuss the Employment Rights Act and wider employment issues, share experiences and best practice with industry peers, and help inform FDF's engagement with government and other policymakers.
If you are interested in joining the Employment Group, discussing the Employment Rights Act or other employment-related issues, or sharing how the changes are affecting your business, please contact Tanya Barringer.
For additional guidance on the Employment Rights Act and upcoming changes, you can also access resources from the UK Government and Acas:
