‘Act now on new employment rules’ Juliet Dennis


Travel firms have been urged to put their houses in order ahead of new legislation under the Employment Rights Act 2025. The warning came on the latest


ABC Webinar, jointly hosted by C&M Travel Recruitment, Travlaw and The Global Travel and Tourism Partnership. TravLaw partner Ami Naru


described planned changes, including the right for employees to claim unfair dismissal after six months instead of two years, as “a generational change”. She stressed: “Implement these


changes now, why wait for the government to tell you to do it? You all need to update your


systems, contracts and policies. I’d suggest you start doing that now.” A new body, the Fair Work


Agency, will ensure the law is enforced, issuing penalties for non-compliance and bringing employment tribunal claims on behalf of employees. A “quite significant” rise in the


number of claims and hearings is expected, added Naru, but she insisted: “It can be navigated if you have done your due diligence.” Naru urged firms to replace


three-month staff probation periods with six months in line with the new qualifying period for unfair dismissals. “Look at your probationary period,”


said Naru, adding: “Three months may have worked when everyone was attending the office regularly


EasyJet holidays to ‘nurture’ growing home-based channel


Andrew McQuarrie


EasyJet holidays is to increase its focus on home-based agents this year as it looks to make further inroads in its “fastest-growing” distribution channel. The operator hosted more than


90 homeworkers at its office in Luton last week as it outlined improvements to its trade-facing services. Natasha Marson, head of trade


distribution, told Travel Weekly that pursuing an effective homeworker strategy was one of her key goals for this year. “I don’t think any other supplier


6 5 FEBRUARY 2026


trade team or tour operator has really capitalised on the opportunity with homeworkers,” she said, adding: “It’s a bit of an untapped arena.” Last week’s event marked the


second year in a row that easyJet holidays has hosted homeworkers at its office during peaks, with the invitation list nearly doubling for the second edition. “We’ve got a plan on how we want


to engage with this audience and how we want to nurture them and support them,” said Marson. “It starts now – from peaks –


as we want to strongly support homeworking businesses.”


You all need to


update your systems, contracts and policies. I’d suggest you start doing that now


but with remote working you are not seeing people as often as you did.” The new six-month qualifying


period – originally proposed as a day one right – is expected to become law in January 2027. The law will also remove the cap on damages for unfair dismissals. Further changes related to zero


hours contracts include the obligation for companies to provide guaranteed hours, notice periods for shift changes


Natasha Marson


and compensation for short-notice cancellations. The details, still under consultation, are likely to impact travel firms with seasonal staff. Key changes due to come in


this April include day one rights to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), elimination of the Lower Earnings Limit for eligibility to SSP, and day one rights for paternity leave and unpaid parental leave. The act will also strengthen


employees’ flexible working rights and require firms to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, such as training and risk assessments. “If you haven’t rolled out training,


got a policy or done an audit, I strongly recommend you start sooner rather than later,” Naru added.


Agents attending the Luton event


were given presentations on the operator’s recently added live chat function, a self-service option for amending certain booking details and a group booking facility enabling up to 16 people to be included on a single booking. In the summer, the operator


intends to host about 300 agents for its largest homeworker event since the brand launched in late 2019. In addition to the support for


homeworkers, Marson said easyJet holidays would also continue backing high street agencies, with total trade


bookings representing 23% of sales so far this peaks. “It’s great – I couldn’t be prouder,”


she said, noting the share typically fluctuates between 20%-25% throughout the year. “There are lots of new shop


openings where business owners require some support to get started,” she added. “We want to look at meeting


their requirements. I’m really keen to tailor to the business owner and their


demographic.” i EasyJet holidays event, page 10 i EasyJet record January, back page


travelweekly.co.uk


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