Money Box Live: Changes to Rights at Work
Money Box
BBC
4.2 • 825 Ratings
🗓️ 6 May 2026
⏱️ 29 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The Employment Rights Act has been called the most significant change to workers rights in a generation, so what does it mean for your money?
The new law will introduce a raft of new rules for employees and employers over the next 18 months. From April 6th statutory sick pay has been enhanced and will be available from the first day of illness. Also, fathers will have a right to paternity leave on joining a workplace, rather than after six months' service.
In January protection from unfair dismissal will become a right after six months of being in a job, instead of two years, and there will be a clamp down on zero hours jobs with workers given the right to request 'guaranteed hours'.
Felicity Hannah is joined by John Palmer a senior adviser at the conciliation service ACAS and Kaajal Nathwani, an employment lawyer at Osborne & Wise. Felicity also speaks to the employment rights minister Kate Dearden.
Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producers: James Graham Editor: Jess Quayle Senior News Editor: Henry Jones
(First broadcast 3pm Wednesday 8th April 2026)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:07.0 | If you need help on money matters, you're not alone. |
| 0:10.4 | In the Martin Lewis podcast, I'll give you tips to keep more cash in your pocket |
| 0:13.9 | and answer your important questions. |
| 0:16.7 | Now that we're starting from scratch, what is the best way for us to move forward? |
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| 0:26.2 | The Martin Lewis podcast, listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:30.1 | Hello, it's been called the most significant change to workers' rights in a generation. |
| 0:34.8 | And today on this Moneybox Live podcast, we're asking what will it mean for your money? |
| 0:39.5 | The new Employment Rights Act came into force on Monday and brings huge changes to sick pay, |
| 0:44.7 | paternity leave, unfair dismissal and more. But are people actually aware of what it is? |
| 0:50.6 | I am not. |
| 0:53.0 | It's not really on your radar. |
| 0:54.5 | Not particularly, no. |
| 0:56.0 | It's annoying because I listen to Radio 4 every day. |
| 0:59.2 | I'm not clued up on anything. |
| 1:01.8 | We'll be hearing more from people in Stockport shortly. |
| 1:04.8 | And later on in the programme, I'll be joined by the Employment Rights Minister Kate Dearden. |
| 1:09.1 | Before then, though, joining me today to explain all are John Palmer, a senior advisor at ACAS, the Conciliation Service, which provides free impartial advice to employers and employees. Hello. Hello, good afternoon. And also joining us is Cargill Nathwani, who's an employment lawyer and partner at the law firm Osborne and Wise. Cargill, hello. |
| 1:28.6 | Hello, thank you for having me. |
| 1:30.0 | Thanks for joining us. Let's start, Cargill, with that man in Stockport, who clearly didn't know much about this. He cannot be the only one. Do you think employees know their rights are changing? No, I think they absolutely don't. You know, it's said that up to 9.6 million UK workers will benefit |
| 1:45.9 | from the changes, especially to sick pay rules, and that's data published by unions. But |
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