‘Ping pong’ - Employment Rights Bill returns to Commons following Lords' amendments

Rather unexpectedly, the Employment Rights Bill was sent back to the House of Commons on 28 October 2025. It had been expected that the House of Lords would nod the Bill through, but they insisted on key amendments, including:

• Unfair dismissal: The Lords have reaffirmed their position on a six-month qualifying period for unfair dismissal, rejecting the proposal for day-one rights.
• Zero-hour contracts: The Lords revised their own amendment regarding guaranteed hours. Under the new proposal, after the initial reference period and offer of guaranteed hours, employees may opt out of future reviews and offers, with the flexibility to opt back in at any time.
• Trade unions: The Lords are demanding that there is a 50% turnout threshold for an industrial action ballot to be valid. Additionally, the change that any new trade union members automatically pay into a political levy has been rejected by the Lords.

While it is not the norm, it is also not unusual for the House of Lords to return amendments to the House of Commons even after they have been previously rejected - particularly when dealing with contentious legislation.