Employment Right Act Implementation: Unpaid Carers and Time off for Public Duties Consultations

To build on the work of the review so far, we are launching a consultation that seeks views on whether there is more that Government should do. It considers several approaches such as improvements to guidance and communications, and new statutory leave entitlements for unpaid carers. It also asks questions on support for parents of seriously ill children in recognition of the acute challenges that arise for families following a diagnosis of serious or life-threatening illness during childhood, as we committed to do during the passage of the Employment Rights Act.

We will analyse all consultation responses and wider evidence as part of the ongoing review before deciding whether any further interventions are needed.

This consultation will be open for 12 weeks, closing on 1 September 2026.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 set out the Government’s commitment to reviewing the list of public duties in section 50 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 for which individuals are entitled to time off work, with consideration of special constables. The aim of the review was to ensure the list of public bodies and offices that individuals can take time off work to undertake remains fit for purpose and continues to support the effective functioning of modern public services.

The review found that the list of public duties would benefit from updates to reflect changes to public services, governance structures and devolution arrangements. The list also places insufficient emphasis on locally rooted roles linked to community governance and representation. Therefore, these targeted changes are proposed to modernise the entitlement:

Special constables should be entitled to time off under these provisions;

People carrying out eligible public duties with a clear local focus should gain the right to reasonable time off; and

People carrying out public duties for certain national public sector organisations should no longer be entitled to time off work.

Insights drawn from the consultation will help shape the future of this important entitlement and possible legislative changes, ensuring it continues to serve the public interest.

This consultation will be open for 12 weeks, closing on 4 September 2026.

This package of consultations sets out the next steps in delivering our plans. They are critical to shaping the practical implementation of this legislation, helping the Government to deliver reforms that are both effective and inclusive. It is in everyone’s interest to get the relationship between employer and worker right. The Act is the first phase of delivering our plan to make work pay, supporting employers, workers, and unions to get Britain moving forward. The Act will support the Government’s mission to increase productivity and create the right conditions for sustainable, inclusive, and secure economic growth. The Government have further plans for both consultation and the release of Government responses over the coming months and will continue to update Parliament appropriately.

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