As the saying goes, ‘new year, new you’. Yes, we know it’s a phrase that usually belongs in a January gym advert or alongside a soon-to-be-abandoned New Year’s resolution. But for HR and payroll, 2026 really will mark a new beginning. This year, some of the biggest changes we’ve seen in decades are expected to land as the Employment Rights Bill takes shape, raising expectations around fairness and transparency. Add to that the recent Budget’s impact on pay, tax and employment costs, it’s fair to…
We’re all familiar with the phrase “three strikes and you’re out”. Most know its sporting origins in baseball. Some may associate it with Bill Clinton’s 1994 legislation mandating life imprisonment for those committing three serious, violent, offences. It’s colloquially used in employment – often around lateness and attendance. With the Worker Protection Act now 12 months’ old, we need to be clear about one thing. You don’t clock up three strikes with sexual harassment. One is all it takes. However, harassment often generates (at least)…
The Health and Safety Executive has released its latest non-fatal injury and ill-health statistics for 2024 – 25. Published towards the end of November, the figures paint a clear picture of what’s happening in workplaces across the UK, and where employers may need to sharpen their focus. Work-related ill health rises again This year’s big headline is the continued rise in work-related ill health. A total of 1.9 million people reported a work-related health issue, up from 1.7 million the previous year. Mental health challenges…
If you work in HR or run a business, you’ve almost certainly heard talk of the Employment Rights Bill (ERB). It’s been described as the most significant shake-up of employment law in a generation, and with good reason. The Bill introduces sweeping changes that will reshape day-to-day people management, from how quickly employees gain rights to how flexible work is structured across the UK. So, what’s actually changing and what should HR teams be preparing for? Government U-turns on day one unfair dismissal rights The…
I would like to think that many of you will say ‘yes’. But what about if I asked whether you trusted your employees if they said they were sick? I would imagine that many of you will say ‘no’ or ‘not completely’ to this one, as we know that there are some employees who just want a day off and phone in sick. How about someone who is on long-term sickness absence of four weeks or more? Is that a different matter? I’m assuming that…
Walking around the Castro area of San Francisco on December 1st (World AIDS Day) I was hit by a huge sense of loss of life, and I wondered, what if AIDS had never happened? What would those people have achieved if they had lived? Where would we be, in the sense of LGBTQIA+ rights and activism? Some might say, it’s a miracle some of us did survive, and what is the story we must tell! I think we would have achieved all the milestones our…
From 1 December 2025, the Early Conciliation period will double from six to twelve weeks. For employers, it’s a shift that will change how long a dispute sits in the background, how quickly issues need to be picked up internally, and how much time you’ll have to settle matters before litigation becomes a real possibility. Early Conciliation already plays a pivotal role in the route to an Employment Tribunal. It’s the stage where ACAS steps in to try to resolve disagreements before they escalate, and…
As the clocks go back and darker evenings set in, the UK edges toward winter months, bringing cooler temperatures and unsettled weather. As temperatures drop and the darker evenings settle in, employers are beginning to feel the familiar chill of winter preparations, meaning now is the time to ensure policies and plans are in place to protect employees’ safety. Here are some key considerations for employers when determining their obligations during such times. Where the employees make themselves available for work Winter brings festive cheer,…
As Moorepay marks Black History Month 2025, we’re reflecting on this year’s theme, Standing Firm in Power and Pride. At its heart, the theme is about confidence, self-belief and integrity. It’s about knowing who you are, taking pride in where you come from, and carrying that strength with you into everything you do. Few people embody these values more naturally than Yve Montaz, our Employment Tribunal Advocate here at Moorepay. We sat down with Yve to talk about how power and pride show up in…
Unlimited annual leave sounds like the ultimate workplace perk. Take as much time off as you want, whenever you want. No carryover spreadsheets, no accrual maths, no awkward “can I take those extra two days?” conversations. It’s a policy that’s been making headlines for years and is often touted as the next big step in flexible working. But is it really the game-changer it’s made out to be? Or is it, as some experts suggest, just a “sticking plaster” for deeper workplace problems? Why unlimited…
