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Employment Rights Act 1996, Introductory Text is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 23 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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An Act to consolidate enactments relating to employment rights.
[22nd May 1996]
Be 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 Information
E1For 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
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Act 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)
C2Act 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. 3
Act 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. 2
Act 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. 2
Act 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. 2
Act modified (30.1.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 211, Sch. 15 para. 11; S.I. 2001/57, art. 2, Sch. 1
Act modified (30.1.2001) by 2000 c. 38, s. 218, Sch. 19 para. 12(b); S.I. 2001/57, art. 2, Sch. 1
Act 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)
C3Act 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. 1
Act 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. 1
Act 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. 1
Act applied (with modifications) (8.12.2002) by The Paternity and Adoption Leave Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2788), reg. 30(2)(b)
C4Act: 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. 2
Act: 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. I
Act: 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. I
Act: power to amend or apply conferred (8.7.2002) by Employment Act 2002 (c. 22), ss. 45(3)(d)(i), 55(2)
C5Act 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)
C6Act modified (1.7.2004) by The British Transport Police (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1573), arts. 1, 6(8)(b)
C7Act: 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.
C8Act: 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)
C9Act modified (21.2.2009) by The Banking Act 2009 (Parts 2 and 3 Consequential Amendments) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/317), art. 3, Sch.
C10Act 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
C11Act 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)
Commencement Information
I1Act not in force at Royal Assent: see s. 243
I2This 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.
I3This 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.
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