- The case law surrounding employment status and worker rights continues to evolve at pace, with several lead case decisions expected to have a significant impact on how employment status is to be determined. Important hearings and decisions are currently awaited from the First-tier Tribunal (including Basic Broadcasting, RALC Consulting, Rowland Pharmacies) and the Upper Tribunal (Bryan Robson Ltd).
- Wide-ranging reforms to employment rights planned by the government include a plan to move to a two-tier system of employment status, comprising of the self-employed and a single worker status.
- Following the Employment Rights Act 2025, containing the basis for wide raning employment law reforms, the government published the Employment Rights Bill Implementation Roadmap in July 2025, setting out a draft timeline for implementation of the different reforms contained in the Employment Rights Act, ranging from immediate reforms to others which will take until 2027 to take full effect.
- The move to a two-tier system of employment status was, however, not included in the Employment Rights Act and any change in this area is likely to take longer.
- Timing: Employment law reforms will be phased in gradually between 2026 and 2027.
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