Op-Ed: It's time to plan for the changes the Employment Rights Act will bring.

The ground is shifting beneath the UK’s workforce and this time it’s not just rhetoric. The Employment Rights Act (ERA) promises change. From single worker status to day-one rights and tougher limits on zero-hours contracts and ‘fire and rehire’, unclear accountability is over. The goal with WorkWise for Screen has always been how to make sense of these shifts together. It’s about providing the resources that help our sector move forward without the guesswork of how to stay compliant.

The Fair Work Agency (FWA) is due to launch in April 2026, to consolidate and strengthen the enforcement of minimum wage, holiday pay and statutory sick pay rights. Although it will have the authority to investigate and penalise non-compliance, the government also promises that the FWA will be a source of support for businesses seeking to comply with the relevant regulations. 

Alongside the FWA is the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA). Following the publication of its Standards last year, CIISA announced it is developing its Reporting Service, designed to provide a trusted, independent channel for raising workplace culture concerns. Their new delivery plan will be available soon.

As part of the government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan, a commitment was given to appoint to its Creative Industries Council a Freelance Champion to “advocate for the sector’s creative freelancers in Government” and we look forward to supporting the Champion once in post.

So, how should leaders spend the first months of the new financial year? The temptation is to focus solely on securing the next project, but the most important work may be happening behind the scenes. We will need to revisit the ‘standard’ industry models that have been used for a decade. The forthcoming regulatory environment will impact the traditional ways of doing business. It’s time to make sure that only genuine freelancers are treated as such, and that you have appropriate policies in place to promote good working practices for everyone. 

But screen sector businesses have a long history of dealing with change - so let’s put that to good use by reducing risks by planning for what the Employment Rights Act might bring.

About the author: Keith Arrowsmith is the Programme Director of WorkWise for Screen. He qualified as a solicitor in 1995 and has, since then, worked with organisations across the cultural and creative sectors. He provides guidance and assistance on governance, intellectual property, business law, contracts, website regulations and charity law. He is Managing Director of multi-disciplinary law firm, ProArts Plus.