One of the biggest difficulties I’ve experienced as a young woman at work is not always knowing what my rights are. It can be hard to know when something isn’t fair, how to report it, or to feel confident enough to speak out, especially when you’re worried about losing your job. This lack of awareness and confidence is something many young women face, and it can leave us feeling powerless.
In December 2025, I was invited by Young Women’s Trust to join an online briefing with the Employment Rights Minister, Kate Dearden. I asked a question that many of us are thinking: “How will the changes in the Employment Rights Act specifically benefit young women, and how will these changes be communicated, given that many young women are not aware of their rights?”.
Minister Dearden responded by saying, “As a young woman myself, I feel a responsibility to ensure that young women are represented and that their voices are heard.” She then explained how the new law is intended to strengthen protections and improve working conditions, as well as stressing the importance of making sure young women understand their rights.
Before asking my question, I felt nervous, what if I completely forget the question I wanted to ask? Luckily this didn’t happen. In fact, I was surprised at not only how detailed the Minister’s answer was, but also the passion and personal conviction. I could tell she really cared and that young women’s issues mattered to her.
It felt like an incredible opportunity to discuss real life issues and how changes in the law can better support us to not just have fairer treatment in the workplace, but to thrive and succeed in our careers.
What next?
Alongside the new laws, the government is introducing a new enforcement body called the Fair Work Agency. This is being created to provide a better service for employees to report unfair treatment, as well as for employers to access guidance.
I would like to know more about how education about rights will work – how will young women feel confident in knowing their rights and how to use them? How do we use the Fair Work Agency to report unfair treatment, and will we be protected from backlash if we do?
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