Protection of employees from harassment, and sexual harassment in particular, has been a dynamic area in recent times and a clear area of focus for the current government. In October 2024, the new duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace took effect, imposing wide-ranging and onerous obligations on employers to […]
A series of Home Office changes introduced from late February to early March 2026 confirms a shift toward stricter enforcement, reduced tolerance for error and greater expectations on sponsors. Key updates include a new visa brake affecting several nationalities, tighter Skilled Worker salary compliance, changes to protection routes, and adjustments to visit visa and endorsement
Following the Employment Rights Act (ERA) receiving royal assent late last year, early 2026 has already seen some further activity in relation to the Act’s provisions on contractual change. The Government’s revised timetable for ERA implementation has moved commencement of the so-called ‘fire and rehire’ provisions from October 2026 to 1 January 2027, tying in
Employment Rights Act: Preparing for change: Contract change update and action points Read More »
When the Employment Rights Bill was published in October 2024, the headline measure was the proposal to make unfair dismissal a ‘day 1 right’ by removing the qualifying period. At the 11th hour a series of defeats in the House of Lords forced the government to U-turn on that proposal. Instead, the qualifying period for
Employment Rights Act: Preparing for change: The impact of changes to unfair dismissal Read More »
The government has taken another step forward in implementing key provisions of the Employment Rights Act 2025 with the publication of employer guidance on creating action plans for both gender pay gaps and the menopause. From April 2026, large employers with 250 or more employees will be encouraged to publish the steps that they are
On 26 February the government published two further consultation papers on the implementation of aspects of the Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA): Make Work Pay: threshold for triggering collective redundancy obligations consultation and Make Work Pay: protection from detriments for taking industrial action. Collective consultation threshold In addition to retaining the existing trigger for collective
On 18 February, the first major measures of the Employment Rights Act (ERA) come into force. The ERA repeals the majority of the Trade Union Act 2016 and significantly relaxes the requirements of the process for organising industrial action. For industrial action ballots opening on or after 18 February, the ERA simplifies requirements on trade unions in
The government has published three further consultation papers on implementation of aspects of the Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA), covering flexible working, fire and rehire and tipping. Flexible working Currently, all employees have the right to make a flexible working request . Employers can refuse an application for any of these reasons: Extra costs that
On 3 February the government published a revised timetable for implementation of the Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA). Whilst most of the timing remains unchanged from the roadmap published in July 2025, there are some notable changes, particularly in relation to the restrictions on fire and rehire, which move to January 2027. We set out
Employment Rights Act: Preparing for change: Revised timetable for implementation Read More »
In Micro Focus Ltd v Mildenhall, the EAT considered when collective redundancy consultation obligations under section 188 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (TULRCA) are triggered and in particular the impact of the ECJ’s decision in UQ v Marclean Technologies SLU (Marclean). s.188, which implements the Collective Redundancies Directive (Directive), states that ‘Where
The Employment Rights Bill (ERB) received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025, becoming the Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA). When the ERB was first laid before parliament in October 2024, it was promoted as ‘the most extensive overhaul of workers’ rights in generations’. Wide-ranging amendments were made in both the House of Commons and House
The UK Government has announced a series of immigration reforms that will reshape sponsorship costs, compliance obligations, visa eligibility and settlement pathways. These changes reflect a continued policy focus on reducing net migration and tightening employer responsibilities. Below we provide an overview of the key developments, the practical implications, and what employers should do now.
UK immigration update December 2025 Read More »
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has responded to the Treasury Committee on its non-financial misconduct (NFM) actions. The FCA is working with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on potential guidance on preventing sexual harassment in the workplace. An FCA survey shows declining use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) since 2021, and this trend is
FCA responds to Committee recommendations in 2024 ‘Sexism in the City’ report Read More »
The government has issued a working paper seeking views on options to reform non-compete clauses in employment contracts, with the aim of boosting labour market dynamism, supporting innovation, reducing barriers to recruitment and protecting workers. The options considered are: Statutory limit on length (for example, 3 months, possibly varying by company size). Complete ban on
Working paper seeks views on options to reform non-competes in employment contracts Read More »
The government has issued two further consultation documents on aspects of the Employment Rights Bill (ERB), a consultation on a draft code of practice on electronic and workplace balloting for statutory union ballots, and the terms of reference for a review of employment rights of unpaid carers. Meanwhile, the parliamentary ping pong process on the
Employment Rights Bill: Latest developments Read More »