The proposals apply to zero-hours workers and similar workers, with many of the measures also extending to agency workers. Self-employed individuals are not included.
REFORM OF ZERO HOURS AND SIMILAR CONTRACTS
On-demand session
Understanding the Employment Rights Act 2025 reforms
The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces significant changes to the rights of zero-hours and similar workers, with important implications for employers, recruitment businesses and agency workers.
Watch our on-demand session, where employment law specialist Katie Selves explains the proposed reforms, explores the government's consultation, and discusses what these changes could mean for the recruitment sector.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Watch the full recording
This session covers:
- The three new rights proposed under the Employment Rights Act 2025
- How the reforms will affect agency workers
- Guaranteed hours and qualifying workers
- Hours thresholds and reference periods
- How guaranteed hours offers will work in practice
- Seasonal work, temporary need and potential exclusions
- Reasonable notice of shifts
- Short notice cancellation payments
- The potential impact on employers, agencies and hirers
- The current government consultation and next steps
RESPOND TO THE CONSULTATION
Help shape the future of zero-hours contract reform
The Government is seeking views on its proposed reforms to zero-hours and similar contracts. If the changes discussed in this on-demand session could affect your organisation, you can submit your response through the official consultation.
About the speaker
Katie Selves is a fractional general counsel at New Road with over 20 years' experience across private practice, in-house legal leadership and executive roles. Having spent more than a decade working within the recruitment sector, Katie specialises in helping businesses understand complex employment law and prepare for legislative change. In this on-demand session, she shares practical insights into the proposed reforms to zero-hours and similar contracts under the Employment Rights Act 2025.
Katie Selves
Employment Lawyer for SME's, New Road Consultancy
Key topics covered
Government objectives behind the reforms
Guaranteed hours eligibility
Hours thresholds and reference periods
Agency worker considerations
Seasonal work and temporary need
Exclusions
Practical business impacts
Shift notice requirements
Cancellation payment proposals
Consultation process and timelines
Why these reforms matter
The Government has published proposals aimed at providing greater security and predictability for workers engaged on zero-hours and similar contracts, while balancing flexibility for employers.
The reforms introduce three key rights:
Guaranteed hours
Qualifying workers who regularly work beyond their contracted hours may need to be offered a contract that reflects the hours they actually work over a defined reference period.
Reasonable notice of shifts
Workers may become entitled to receive reasonable notice of new, changed or cancelled shifts, with separate considerations for direct workers and agency workers.
Short notice cancellation payments
Where shifts are cancelled, moved or shortened at short notice, workers may become entitled to compensation, with agencies and hirers sharing responsibilities depending on the circumstances.
The webinar also explores the practical implications these proposals may have for recruitment businesses, employers and agency workers.
REFORM OF ZERO HOURS AND SIMILAR CONTRACTS
Frequently asked questions
No. The webinar discusses proposals that are currently subject to government consultation and may change before regulations are introduced.
The content is particularly relevant for:
- Recruitment businesses
- Employers using agency workers
- HR professionals
- Talent acquisition teams
- Workforce planning specialists
- Anyone interested in upcoming UK employment law reforms
EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN ONE PLACE
Resources
Government consultation
Read the official consultation on reforms to zero-hours and similar contracts and submit your response.
Employment Rights Act 2025
Learn more about the legislation and the proposed changes affecting employers, workers and agencies.
Visit New Road
Explore employment law insights and practical guidance from Katie Selves and the New Road team.
Explore our insights
Stay up to date with the latest recruitment and employment insights, trends and updates.