UK Plans New Refugee Sponsorship Route for Employers
The UK government has announced plans to create a new sponsorship route allowing recognised refugees overseas to come to the UK through approved sponsors. The proposal forms part of a wider package of asylum reforms unveiled ahead of the publication of the Immigration and Asylum Bill. If implemented, it would equate to an unprecedented expansion […]
Brexit at 10: How UK Law Has Changed Since Leaving the EU
On 23 June 2016, the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in a referendum that would trigger one of the most significant constitutional and legislative changes in modern British history. Much of the public debate that followed focused on politics, economics and immigration. Yet Brexit was, at its core, a legal event. Leaving […]
Employer Responsibilities During a Heatwave: HR Guide
Although the UK has no legal maximum workplace temperature, employers are still subject to extensive health and safety obligations that apply throughout periods of extreme weather. Employers’ Legal Duties During Extreme Heat The starting point is the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which requires employers to take reasonably practicable steps […]
Proposed Anti-SLAPP Reforms Aim to Protect Journalists & Whistleblowers
The UK could be a step closer to introducing dedicated protections against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, commonly known as SLAPPs. Parallel Bills have been introduced in both Houses of Parliament proposing new powers that would allow courts to identify and dismiss certain claims at an early stage where proceedings appear designed to suppress public […]
Reform UK’s Foreign Worker Tax Proposals: HR & Payroll Challenges
Reform UK has proposed a new employment tax regime that would increase the cost of employing foreign workers while reducing employment costs for British citizens. Under proposals announced by Treasury spokesperson Robert Jenrick, employers would pay lower National Insurance contributions for British workers while continuing to pay higher rates for non-British workers. The party has […]
Companies House Confirms New Filing Rules for Small Businesses
The government has confirmed that small and micro companies will be required to file profit and loss accounts with Companies House from 2028, under changes to the UK’s corporate reporting framework. The measure forms part of the wider reforms being introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, which is expanding the powers of […]
Government Considers New Workplace Rights for Unpaid Carers
The government has launched a consultation on new workplace rights for unpaid carers, including potential reforms that could significantly expand existing employment protections. Announced during Carers Week, the proposals form part of Labour’s wider employment rights agenda and are intended to help more people remain in work while managing caring responsibilities. While no decisions have […]
World Cup 2026: Top 10 HR Headaches
Whether you’re a football fan or not, if you work in HR or have responsibility for managing people, there is a good chance at least one World Cup-related issue will land on your desk over the coming weeks. With the tournament set to attract huge audiences across the UK and worldwide, normal workplace routines will […]
Zero Hours Contract Reforms Move Closer: Update for HR
The government has launched a consultation on proposed reforms to zero hours contracts, including new rights to guaranteed hours and compensation for cancelled shifts. While the measures remain subject to consultation, HR teams may already need to start assessing how the proposals could affect workforce planning, scheduling practices and the use of flexible labour. Much […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]