Government Consults on Zero Hours Contract Reforms
The government has published further details of its proposed reforms to zero hours contracts as part of the wider Employment Rights Act implementation programme. The proposals effectively seek to limit arrangements where workers regularly work predictable hours but remain engaged under contracts that provide little or no certainty over working time. Guaranteed Hours […]
Sponsor Right to Work Checks: Home Office Reverses Changes
Changes made to sponsor guidance in March and April 2026 appeared to suggest that sponsors could be responsible for carrying out right to work checks on a broader group of workers, including individuals engaged through contractors and labour supply arrangements. The wording prompted concern across the HR and immigration compliance community, particularly among organisations with […]
Fit Note Reform Pilots Launched in Return-to-Work Push
The Government has launched new fit note reform pilots as part of a wider effort to tackle long-term sickness absence and reduce economic inactivity. From July 2026, selected areas of England will begin testing alternative approaches to the current fit note system, with ministers arguing that the existing process places too much emphasis on certifying […]
Home Office U-Turn on Sponsor Right to Work Changes
The Home Office has reversed controversial changes to sponsor guidance that appeared to expand right to work obligations beyond sponsored workers and direct employees. The move follows concern among employers and immigration practitioners after revised guidance published earlier this year suggested sponsors would be expected to carry out right to work checks on all workers […]
Employment NDAs: New Rules Under Consultation
The UK Government has opened a 12-week consultation on the future use of non-disclosure agreements in workplace harassment and discrimination cases. The consultation closes on 8 July 2026, and forms part of the wider implementation framework for the Employment Rights Act 2025, which introduces a statutory restriction on the enforceability of confidentiality clauses in this context. […]
Employment Law Changes in 2026: Explained for HR
April 2026 brought in a suite of employment law changes directly impacting HR operations, affecting onboarding, absence management, employee relations and workforce planning. As key provisions under the Employment Rights Act 2025 have now come into force, alongside associated statutory updates, many workplace rights now arise earlier in the employment relationship, meaning risks will now […]
Tougher Holiday Pay Record-Keeping Rules Now In Force
Recent developments in employment law enforcement are bringing renewed attention to how employers record and retain annual leave data. While the obligation to keep adequate records is not new, expectations have tightened in practice, particularly following the April 2026 employment law changes and the launch of the Fair Work Agency. The focus is shifting from […]
Adoption Orders Are Final, Rules UK Supreme Court
In Re X and Y (Children: Adoption Order: Setting Aside) [2026] UKSC 13, the Supreme Court has confirmed that the courts have no jurisdiction to set aside a validly made adoption order other than through the statutory appeal framework. The decision provides authoritative clarification on the limits of the High Court’s inherent jurisdiction and reinforces […]
Sponsor Guidance Changes in March & April 2026
Note that the Home Office has reversed these changes, read our guide here > Home Office updates to sponsor guidance in March and April 2026 have introduced a more demanding compliance framework for organisations holding a sponsor licence. The changes affect right to work checks, how sponsored workers’ salary is assessed and evidenced, […]
Ukraine Permission Extension: Further 24 Months Now Available
The UK Home Office has introduced a further extension under the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme. If you are already in the UK with permission under the scheme, you may now be able to apply for an additional 24 months before your current visa expires. The change means that many people can now stay in the […]
UK Smoking Laws Closer to Overhaul
The UK is moving towards one of the most significant public health reforms in decades, following the passage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill through Parliament. The legislation introduces a generational ban on the sale of tobacco, alongside broader regulatory powers over vaping and nicotine products. The Bill has now completed its parliamentary stages and […]
Mobile Phones to Banned in Schools in England under New Law
The government has confirmed plans to introduce a legal requirement for schools in England to restrict the use of smartphones during the school day. The measure will be brought forward as an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, as part of a broader policy focus on child wellbeing, behaviour and digital safety. It […]
Changes to Sponsor Guidance & Right to Work Checks
Updates to the Home Office’s official sponsor guidance in March and April 2026 have introduced a more expansive and interconnected approach to compliance across right to work checks, salary assessment and pay reporting. The changes form part of a broader shift in how the Home Office expects sponsors to evidence that individuals are working lawfully […]
Revised 6th Edition TA6 Form Mandatory from 30 March 2026
From 30 March 2026, the Law Society of England and Wales has introduced the TA6 Property Information Form (6th Edition) as the standard form for residential property transactions in England and Wales, with mandatory use required for Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) members on new instructions from that date. The new version follows the withdrawal of […]
TA6 Property Information Form Explained
Buying a property can be both an exciting and stressful time. As part of the conveyancing process, the Property Information Form is used to provide key information about the property to a prospective buyer at an early stage of the transaction, provided this form is completed by the seller promptly and in full. In this […]
Home Office Immigration Reforms Criticised as “Not Fully Thought Through”
The House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee has raised significant concerns about the Government’s latest immigration rule changes, warning that key elements of the policy package lack clarity, supporting evidence and operational planning. In its latest report examining Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 1691, the Committee has drawn the measures to the […]
Govt Confirms April Employment Law Changes in New Regulations
The Government has published commencement regulations bringing a number of provisions under the Employment Rights Act 2025 into force from April 2026. While not a full implementation of the Act, the changes coming into effect next month introduce immediate compliance obligations and increase exposure across several core employment risk areas. The Employment Rights Act 2025 […]
Government Signals Major Overhaul of UK Late Payment Laws
The UK Government has confirmed a package of proposed reforms aimed at tackling late payment across business supply chains, following its “Time to pay up” consultation. The measures are intended to address what ministers describe as a systemic issue affecting small businesses, with late payments estimated to cost the UK economy £11 billion each year […]
UK Home Office Fees Increasing from 8 April 2026
The Home Office has confirmed a wide range of fee increases across UK visa, settlement and nationality applications, which will take effect from 8 April 2026. The changes will affect most major immigration routes, including work, study, visit and settlement applications, with costs rising across both overseas and in-country applications. For many applicants, the increases […]
Fair Work Agency Advisory Board Appointed Ahead of April Launch
The government has confirmed the appointment of the inaugural Advisory Board for the new Fair Work Agency, ahead of its formal launch on 7 April 2026. The appointments mark a key step in the rollout of a centralised labour market enforcement body, bringing together multiple existing enforcement functions under a single structure. A new […]