👑 The King's Speech: what does it mean for employers?
- HRNews
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
What is it?
On 13 May 2026, King Charles delivered the State Opening of Parliament, setting out the Government's legislative plans for the next 12 months. The central message was economic security and a fair deal for working people, with 35 bills announced across business, infrastructure, immigration, energy and public services.
What you need to know
There were no major new workplace law announcements. The bigger story for employers is already in motion: the Employment Rights Act 2025, phasing in from April 2026, remains the dominant challenge. The speech confirmed the Government is pressing ahead rather than adding anything new.
The areas most relevant to employers are:
Apprenticeships and youth employment - continued investment was confirmed, though concrete detail on how this will work in practice is still to come.
Digital IDs - a voluntary digital ID scheme is coming via a Digital Access to Services Bill. Plans to make digital IDs mandatory for right to work checks were dropped in January 2026, so this is one to monitor rather than act on immediately.
Late payments and regulation - a Small Business Protections Bill targeting late payments was confirmed, alongside a Regulating for Growth Bill aimed at cutting unnecessary red tape. Both will matter to smaller employers watching costs.
Immigration - an Immigration and Asylum Bill was announced, with employer implications to follow as the detail emerges.
What it means for your business
The speech did not slow anything down or add major new burdens, but the cumulative weight of what is already in train under the Employment Rights Act is significant. If your contracts, policies and managers are not yet up to speed with the changes already live, that is the priority.
How Lansbury HR can help
We can help you work through what is already live under the Employment Rights Act, review your contracts and policies, and make sure your managers are ready for what is here and what is still coming. Get in touch to find out more.
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