{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/employment-rights-act-1996/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/employment-rights-act-1996/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1996/18",
  "legislation_title": "Employment Rights Act 1996",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/employment-rights-act-1996",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "An Act to consolidate enactments relating to employment rights.\n[22nd May 1996]\nBe it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—",
  "extent": "E+W+S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Part 2B heading and s. 27C inserted (E.W.S.) (31.7.2023 for specified purposes, 1.10.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 (c. 13), ss. 1, 14(2); S.I. 2023/876, reg. 3(a); S.I. 2024/829, reg. 3(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Act restricted (22.8.1996) by 1996 c. 17, ss. 21, 46 (with s. 38)Act restricted (25.11.1998 for specified purposes and otherwise 8.5.2000) by 1998 c. 45, s. 6, Sch. 3 para. 10; S.I. 1998/2952, art. 2; S.I. 2000/1173, art. 2(2)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "Act modified (E.W.) (11.9.1998) by 1998 c. 18, ss. 54(2), 55(2), Sch. 4 para. 9(2)Act modified (25.11.1998 for specified purposes and otherwise 8.5.2000) by 1998 c. 45, s. 6, Sch. 3 para. 9(3); S.I. 1998/2952, art. 2; S.I. 2000/1173, art. 2(2)(b)Act modified (27.9.1999) by 1999 c. 22, ss. 105, 108(3), Sch. 14 Pt. II paras. 2(1)(b), 4(b), 7(2), Pt. V para. 33(7)(b) (with Sch. 14 para. 7(2))Act modified (1.4.2000) by S.I. 2000/935, art. 3Act modified (S.) (1.4.2000) by 2000 asp 1, s. 10, Sch. 2 para. 8(3); S.S.I. 2000/10, art. 2(3) Act modified (12.1.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 410(5) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 1999/3434, art. 2Act modified (3.7.2000) by 1980 c. 66, s. 266B(7) (as inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 265 (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(c), Sch. Pt. 3)Act modified (1.11.2000) by 2000 c. 27, s. 3(8), Sch. 3 para. 9; S.I. 2000/2917, art. 2Act modified (E.W.) (30.11.2000) by 2000 c. 43, ss. 21(4)-(6), 22(5)-(8), 23, 80(3)Act modified (15.1.2001) by 2000 c. 38, ss. 240, 250, Sch. 26 para. 12(b); S.I. 2000/3376, art. 2Act modified (30.1.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 211, Sch. 15 para. 11; S.I. 2001/57, art. 2, Sch. 1Act modified (30.1.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 218, Sch. 19 para. 12(b); S.I. 2001/57, art. 2, Sch. 1Act modified (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 215(7); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to savings in Sch. 2 Pt. II)Act modified (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 216, Sch. 17 para. 41(2); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to savings in Sch. 2 Pt. II)Act modified (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 217, Sch. 18 para. 16(b); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to savings in Sch. 2 Pt. II)Act modified (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 220, Sch. 21 para. 13(b); S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to savings in Sch. 2 Pt. II)Act modified (1.2.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 240, Sch. 25 para. 12; S.I. 2001/57, art. 3(1), Sch. 2 Pt. I (subject to savings in Sch. 2 Pt. II)Act modified (S.) (prosp.) by 2001 asp 10, ss. 86(3), 113(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "Act applied (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 54, Sch. 16 para. 27(3)(b) (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1Act applied (1.9.1999) by 1998 c. 31, s. 55, Sch. 17 paras. 24(4)(b), 27 (with ss. 138(9), 144(6)); S.I. 1999/2323, art. 2(1), Sch. 1Act applied (with modifications) (1.9.1999) by S.I. 1999/2277, art. 5(1)Act applied (S.) (8.9.2000) by 2000 asp 10, s. 29, Sch. 4 para. 6(3) (with s. 32); S.S.I. 2000/312, art. 2 Act applied (6.11.2000) by 2000 c. 26, s. 118(4)(5); S.I. 2000/2957, art. 2(1), Sch. 1Act applied (with modifications) (8.12.2002) by The Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2788), reg. 30(2)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C4",
      "text": "Act: power to modify conferred (25.2.1999 for certain purposes and otherwise 1.4.1999) by 1999 c. 2, ss. 15(1)(2)(b), 28(2); S.I. 1999/527, art. 2(b), Sch. 2Act: power to amend conferred (25.10.1999) by 1999 c. 26, s. 19(3)(f); S.I. 1999/2830, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 Pt. IAct: power to apply conferred (25.10.1999) by 1999 c. 26, s. 23(1)(b); S.I. 1999/2830, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 Pt. IAct: power to amend or apply conferred (8.7.2002) by Employment Act 2002 (c. 22), ss. 45(3)(d)(i), 55(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C5",
      "text": "Act amended (E.W.) (1.4.2001) by 2000 c. 43, s. 4, Sch. 1 para. 3(5); S.I. 2001/919, art. 2(e) (with art. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C6",
      "text": "Act modified (1.7.2004) by The British Transport Police (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1573), arts. 1, 6(8)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C7",
      "text": "Act: modified (8.6.2005 for certain purposes, otherwise 24.7.2005) by Railways Act 2005 (c. 14), ss. 1, 12, 60, Sch. 2 para. 9(1)(b); S.I. 2005/1444, art. 2, Sch. 1; S.I. 2005/1909, art. 2, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C8",
      "text": "Act: modified (W.) (12.5.2006) by The Education (Modification of Enactments Relating to Employment) (Wales) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1073), arts. 1(1), 5(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C9",
      "text": "Act modified (21.2.2009) by The Banking Act 2009 (Parts 2 and 3 Consequential Amendments) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/317), art. 3, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C10",
      "text": "Act applied (with modifications) (8.2.2011) by The Investment Bank Special Administration Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/245), regs. 1, 27(a), Sch. 6 Pt. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C11",
      "text": "Act excluded (7.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(2), Sch. 5 para. 15(1)(2)(b); S.I. 2013/1682, art. 3(m)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C12",
      "text": "Act applied (with modifications) (10.3.2020) by The Parental Bereavement Leave Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/249), regs. 1, 15 (with reg. 2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C13",
      "text": "Act applied (with modifications) (8.7.2021) by The Payment and Electronic Money Institution Insolvency Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/716), reg. 2, Sch. 3 paras. 2, 3 (with reg. 5) (as amended (4.1.2024) by The Payment and Electronic Money Institution Insolvency (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1399), regs. 1(2), 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C14",
      "text": "Act applied (E.W.S.) (with modifications) (6.4.2024) by The Carer’s Leave Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/251), regs. 1(2), 14 (with reg. 2(1))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C15",
      "text": "Act applied (with modifications) (6.4.2025) by The Neonatal Care Leave and Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/375), regs. 1(2), 20"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C16",
      "text": "Act applied (with modifications) (6.4.2026) by The Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/237), regs. 1(b), 18"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Act not in force at Royal Assent: see s. 243"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I2",
      "text": "This Act has effect with the omission of s. 219(3)(d)(4)(a)(iv) until the relevant commencement date as defined by Sch. 2 Part II para. 18(2) of this Act. See Sch. 2 Part II para. 18."
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I3",
      "text": "This Act has effect with the omission of sections 46, 58, 59, 60, and 102 until the relevant commencement date as defined by Sch. 2 Part II para 15(2) of this Act. See Sch. 2 Part II para. 15."
    },
    {
      "type": "E",
      "label": "E1",
      "text": "For the extent of this Act generally, see s. 244; in particular, provisions which refer to shop workers and betting workers extend to England and Wales only"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/18/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-05T03:34:50.937818+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}