What’s happening?
Where an employer is proposing to dismiss 20 or more employees within a 90-day period in a single establishment, alongside collective consultation obligations, it is a statutory requirement to submit a HR1 form to the Secretary of State. The purpose of the form is to inform the government of large-scale redundancy proposals, allowing relevant agencies to provide support to employees who may lose their job.
Currently, employers can either submit the form online or in hard copy. From 30 November 2025, employers can only submit the form online.
Why is this important?
The paper form will no longer be accepted. Employers must submit the HR1 form online. Failure to do so can lead to criminal prosecution and unlimited fines for the company or its officers.
Changes have also been made to the online form to simplify the reporting process:
- Employers no longer need to provide detailed breakdowns of affected employees by occupational group.
- A new business reason of ‘change in supply chain/loss of supply chain contract’ has been included.
- The form no longer permits future consultation dates, so consultation must have already commenced or be commencing on the same day as the submission.
Employers should note that the form does not autosave and cannot be exported for external review before submission. Employers should therefore ensure they have taken legal advice and have all of the necessary information prior to completing the form.
It is worth keeping in mind that the Employment Rights Bill is proposing to change the collective consultation threshold to include proposed redundancies across an entire organisation, not just a single establishment. The exact threshold may be a number or percentage of the workforce and is subject to regulations expected to be in force in 2027. However, the duty to submit a HR1 form may be triggered more often when the changes come into force.
What should you do?
- Ensure you have robust processes in place to identify when the duty to notify the Secretary of State is triggered.
- Ensure you have taken legal advice and have all necessary information before completing the HR1 form.
- Ensure you complete the HR1 form online. Paper copies will not be accepted from 30 November 2025.
- If you require advice on how these changes may affect your business or would like support preparing for implementation, please contact [email protected] who can put you in touch with one of our specialist employment lawyers.
