New trade union access rights are approaching, are you prepared?

Employers, take note: a new mechanism to facilitate Trade Union access to workplaces is coming.

The Government has now published the final Code of Practice and supporting Regulations on trade union access rights, with the new regime expected to come into force on 30 October 2026, subject to Parliamentary approval. These changes could have far reaching implications for employers.

The new Right of Access provisions will allow trade unions, including those with no existing relationship with an organisation, to seek physical and digital access to workers and workplaces. Employers could receive requests for workplace visits, employee meetings, and communications via email and other digital platforms.

If access cannot be agreed voluntarily, the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) may determine whether access should be granted and on what terms. With short response times, detailed procedural requirements and financial penalties of up to £500,000 for repeated breaches, employers should be thinking now about how they would respond to a request.

Our Trade Union specialists have recorded a short update covering the following key points:

• What the new Right of Access provisions mean for employers in practice
• How workplace access requests could affect your organisation
• Key compliance considerations and potential areas of risk
• Practical steps employers can take now to prepare

Watch the full discussion for practical guidance on navigating the changes.