Major retailers in the UK are sounding alarms over potential job losses as the Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces significant reforms effective April 6. These reforms include updates to statutory sick pay (SSP), the introduction of day-one rights for paternity and parental leave, enhanced whistleblowing protections, and changes to trade union processes. Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), emphasized that flexible retail jobs are crucial for many individuals, including students and parents balancing work and childcare. Retailers support the goal of improving job security but warn that if flexibility is viewed negatively, it could lead to fewer job opportunities. Union leaders, including Joanne Thomas of Usdaw and Paul Nowak from the Trades Union Congress (TUC), echoed these sentiments, highlighting that while tackling precarious employment is vital, it must not come at the expense of the flexible roles that many workers depend on. They argue that the right to regular hours and a ban on exploitative zero-hours contracts are essential for improving living standards for working families.