From 30 October 2026, employers will be required to take ‘all reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment of employees under the Employment Rights Act 2025. The reforms will also introduce new duties relating to harassment by third parties, including customers, clients and contractors. Many employers already have anti-harassment policies in place. However, compliance with the new requirements is likely to involve more than simply updating handbook wording. Employers should assess the specific risks within their workplace, ensure staff understand how to raise concerns and provide…
Two weeks. That’s the amount of statutory paternity leave available to eligible fathers in the UK. And while becoming a parent is one of the biggest moments in someone’s life, our latest research suggests the support available to new Dads can look very different depending on where in the world they live. In our newly released global paternity leave report 2026, we compared statutory paid leave available to fathers around the world, looking not only at how much time parents can take, but what that…
Current statistics show that around 2% of people in the UK are autistic (autism spectrum disorder, or ASD). However, the true figure may be higher, as many adults grew up when autism was less widely recognised and may never have received a diagnosis. It’s therefore quite possible that if you work in a company with around 100 employees, then it could be that at least two of those employees may be autistic. You may not realise it, either. Many autistic people choose not to disclose…
Most employers will, at some point, need to investigate a workplace issue. Whether it's a grievance, an allegation of misconduct, concerns about bullying or harassment, or a dispute between colleagues, how that investigation is handled can make all the difference. Some employers view investigations as a step to complete before reaching an outcome. In reality, they're the foundation of any fair disciplinary or grievance process. And when an investigation is flawed, any decisions that follow are far more likely to be challenged. Why workplace investigations…
Employment is getting more expensive and the first ERA changes are already putting pressure on some businesses’ bottom lines. The Statutory Sick Pay reforms introduced in April have already impacted businesses where people make up a significant proportion of their overheads. With further employment reforms still to come, and costs continuing to rise, it’s understandable that some businesses are looking for somewhere to make savings. So naturally, we’re already hearing conversations about redundancies, altering terms and conditions or even full-scale restructures. If similar discussions are…
The recent case of Geeks Ltd versus Watts demonstrates how careful you must be when seeking to recover training costs from a departing employee. Mr Watts was employed as a trainee on £18,000 per annum. He signed two separate documents purportedly allowing Geeks to recover money if he left their employment within 30 months. He left after eight, for a better paid job elsewhere. Geeks pursued him for over £8000. Somewhat surprisingly, a County Court judge agreed with Geeks. The matter then found its way…
The Met Office has warned that more heatwaves could be on the way, while climate experts say hotter summers are likely to become increasingly common. The UK had already experienced three official heatwaves by mid-July and recent forecasts suggest there’s little sign of the relentless heat easing anytime soon. With extreme heat expected to become a more regular feature of our summers, this may be a challenge employers find themselves managing more often. While many of us welcome a spell of sunshine, working through days…
Most organisations would say they value their managers, but how often do they stop and consider everything managers are actually expected to do? Today's managers aren't just responsible for performance, productivity and keeping work on track like they once were. They're now also expected to support employee wellbeing, navigate conflict, manage change, spot potential misconduct, develop careers, maintain engagement and create positive team cultures. The question is whether we've quietly expanded the role without providing the support needed to succeed. From what we see on…
With the ever-increasing use of AI technology in our workplaces, there may be many differing views on what companies and their employees would consider a challenge. For example, someone who works in retail may have a very different perspective from someone working in a high-tech AI environment. That being said, AI is finding its way into almost every occupation these days. Even retail outlets are not "safe", as many point-of-sale machines (or tills, for those of you who remember that terminology!) now have some form…
The UK is in full summer mode, which means sticky commutes, packed beer gardens and the annual national debate over whether we’re actually enjoying the heatwave or simply surviving it. Love it or hate it, this is the time of year when people are more likely to be out making the most of the weather. Add the World Cup into the mix, and suddenly the pub or that 'quick one after work' can feel a lot more tempting. Which brings us to a familiar HR…
