The Employment Rights Act (2025) is an updated and expanded version of the Employment Rights Act (1996). It forms the backbone of UK individual employment law, regulating matters such as contracts, wages, working time, leave and dismissals.

For publishers, employment costs and legal risk will rise over the next two years as the Act’s measures come into force. Some measures already apply and the OBR flags that key details are still to be settled.

What the OBR found 

• Net drag on growth: The OBR says the Act will likely have a “negative economic impact” driven by its effects on businesses 

• Costs outweigh gains: Workers may become slightly more productive, but higher labour costs, reduced operational flexibility and business uncertainty are expected to outweigh this. 

• Zero-hours detail still unsettled: The OBR notes continuing uncertainty about the final design of the zero-hours contract measures. 

• Less damaging than first proposed: The final Act is considerably less costly for business the 2024 proposals, mainly because “day one” unfair dismissal rights were replaced by a six-month qualifying period. 

PPA Salary Benchmarking 

• The PPA recently conducted a free salary benchmarking survey for members, which would typically cost many thousands of pounds to access. 

• The survey was shaped around the roles and functions that matter most to trusted editorial brands, so the insights should be directly relevant to members making decisions on pay and benefits. 

• Members who participated will soon have access to the insights from the survey, which they’ll be able to draw on for planning, benchmarking and decision-making in the year ahead. 

• Given the new focus on salary transparency in the ERA, this evidence-based view of the market is extremely valuable. 

• If members are interested in being involved in a future iteration, please contact aisling.hilsdon@ppa.co.uk.