News
Trade Union Right of Access: What UK Employers Need to Know Before 30 October 2026
If your business doesn't recognise a trade union, you may assume the new trade union access rules have little to do with you. From 30 October 2026, that assumption could leave employers unprepared. Under the Employment Rights Act 2025, qualifying independent trade unions will gain a new statutory route to request physical or digital access to workplaces. This can include access to meet, support, represent, recruit or organise workers, including workers who aren't already union members. For employers with 21 or more workers, a formal request also starts a process with strict deadlines. Employers will generally have 15 working days [...]
Employment Tribunal Time Limits Are Changing: What Employers Need to Know
From 1 October 2026, the time limit for bringing most Employment Tribunal claims in Great Britain will increase from three months to six months. The change will give employees more time to bring claims and means employers may need to manage the risk of potential disputes for longer. For employers, this is more than a change to a deadline. A dismissal, grievance, disciplinary process or workplace dispute that appears to have been resolved may remain open to a potential claim for considerably longer than before. That makes good HR processes, accurate documentation and appropriate record retention increasingly important. If a [...]
Third-Party Harassment: Is Your Business Ready for October 2026?
Most employers understand their responsibility to prevent and respond to harassment in the workplace. But what happens when the person responsible for the behaviour is not an employee? From 30 October 2026, new measures under the Employment Rights Act 2025 will strengthen harassment protections in Great Britain. Employers will have an obligation not to permit their employees to be harassed by third parties, such as customers, clients, contractors or members of the public, where the employer has failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent the harassment. At the same time, the existing preventative duty around sexual harassment will be [...]
The NI vs. GB Employment Divide: Protecting Your Business Across the UK Market
Many employers assume that employment law is the same across the UK. After all, if your business operates in Belfast, Birmingham and Glasgow under one brand, it seems logical that one set of contracts, one employee handbook and one HR process should cover everyone. In reality, that's not the case. While employment law in Northern Ireland and Great Britain shares many common principles, Northern Ireland has its own employment legislation, tribunal system and employment guidance. Employment law is a devolved matter, meaning legal reforms introduced in England, Scotland and Wales do not automatically apply in Northern Ireland, and they are [...]
Inside the “Make Work Pay” Consultations: How UK Businesses Can Prepare for Zero-Hours and Carers’ Rights Reforms
The UK Government's Make Work Pay consultations mark another significant step towards implementing the Employment Rights Bill, one of the most substantial reforms to UK employment law in recent years. While the consultations remain open until 29 August 2026, employers shouldn't see this as a reason to wait. Instead, they should view it as an opportunity to prepare. Although the final regulations have not yet been published, the direction of travel is already becoming clear. Proposed changes to zero-hours contracts, agency worker protections and carers' rights are likely to require many businesses to review contracts, workforce planning and HR policies. [...]
The End of the Safe Probationary Period: What Employers Need to Know Before 2027
The Employment Rights Actl is expected to transform how employers manage probation periods from 2027. One of the most significant changes is the planned introduction of day-one protection against unfair dismissal, replacing the current requirement for two years' service. Many employers still rely on probation periods as a relatively low-risk way to assess new hires. Once the new rules take effect, that approach will become far more difficult to justify. Why Employers Are Talking About the "Safe Probationary Period" Under current UK employment law, employees generally need two years' continuous service before they can bring an ordinary unfair dismissal claim. [...]
FWA Inspections Are Live: The 3 Operational Records Investigators Want First
The Fair Work Agency is set to become one of the UK's most powerful employment rights enforcement bodies. Employers that fail to maintain accurate workforce records face investigations, financial penalties, and significant operational disruption. When investigators arrive, they do not start with policies. They start with evidence. The records requested in the first few minutes often reveal whether a business can demonstrate compliance with employment law. Here are the three operational records investigators are most likely to request first. What Is the Fair Work Agency? The Fair Work Agency (FWA) is the UK's new employment rights enforcement body, created to [...]
The SSP Reform: Is Your Sick Pay Policy Now Outdated?
The UK’s SSP reform changes how employers manage sickness absence, payroll, and HR documentation. Many contracts and sick leave policies still reference unpaid waiting days, which no longer align with UK employment law. This guide explains what changed, where businesses face risk, and how employers can prepare properly. What Is Changing Under the SSP Reform? The biggest proposed change under the SSP reform is removing the waiting days before employees qualify for Statutory Sick Pay. Traditionally, many businesses only paid SSP after the first three qualifying sick days. The reform changes that position and increase pressure on employers to record [...]
Fair Work Agency Inspections Are Here: Is Your Business Ready?
The Fair Work Agency officially launched on 7 April 2026 and brings stronger workplace enforcement across the UK. Employers now face greater scrutiny around payroll, Statutory Sick Pay, holiday pay, and employee records. This guide explains what inspections may involve, where businesses face the biggest risks, and how HR consultancy support helps employers prepare. What Is the New Fair Work Agency? The new Fair Work Agency expands workplace enforcement powers across the UK. Its role goes beyond minimum wage compliance, focusing on broader enforcement of employment law and workplace standards. The agency is expected to investigate: National Minimum Wage compliance [...]
