PODCAST · 09 JUNE 2025

5 Years On: The Pandemic Legacy On Working Practices (Podcast)

Lewis Silkin

Contributor

Lewis Silkin

Lewis Silkin

Joint managing partners: Jo Farmer, Richard Miskella International offices: Dublin, Hong Kong...

View firm profile

Explore more from Lewis Silkin

Over five years since the first Covid lockdown, James Walters and Amy Russell-Hughes reflect on the pandemic's impact on workplace practices.

United KingdomEmployment and HR

Amy Russell-Hughes

Author LinkedIn connections

Over five years since the first Covid lockdown, James Walters and Amy Russell-Hughes reflect on the pandemic's impact on workplace practices.

They discuss how it influenced sickness management and employee wellbeing, as well as the ongoing 'return to office' debate. Tune in for more insights on how employers are navigating these post-pandemic changes.

self

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

Related Articles

Is The Humble Earplug Getting An Image Change?

United KingdomEmployment and HR

Latest Update On UK Employers' Obligation To Give Workers A Statement Of The Right To Join A Trade Union

United KingdomEmployment and HR

Could There Be Such A Thing As Bad Publicity?

United KingdomEmployment and HR

What The UK Government's Extension Of The Right To Bereavement Leave Will Mean For Employers

United KingdomEmployment and HR

Data Protection Update: What In-House Counsel, HR, And Compliance Professionals Need To Know When Dealing With Employees In The UK (Video)

United KingdomEmployment and HR

Arnold & Porter

Legal Intelligence Newsletters

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

Comparative Guide

Employee Incentives

Comparative Guide

Technology Outsourcing

See more popular content from

Employment and HRLewis Silkin

UK Right To Work Checks: What Changes On 1 October 2026

The UK's right-to-work regime is undergoing a fundamental transformation that will extend compliance obligations far beyond traditional employment relationships. From 1 October 2026, businesses engaging contractors, agency workers, platform-based workers, and complex supply chains will face new liability risks that travel up entire contracting chains. Understanding these changes and implementing the required contractual terms, substitution controls, and identity verification systems is now critical for orga

United KingdomEmployment and HR

Mishcon de Reya LLP

The Future Of Fixed Term Contracts Under The Employment Rights Act 2025 – What UK Employers Need To Know

The Employment Rights Act 2025 represents the most significant overhaul of UK employment law in a generation. Whilst much of the focus has been on day-one unfair dismissal rights, guaranteed hours, and changes to family-friendly rights, employers should not overlook the substantial implications for the use of fixed-term contracts.

United KingdomEmployment and HR

Andy Burnham And The Future Of Employment Law: What Can We Expect?

As Parliament enters its summer recess, attention turns to how new Prime Minister Andy Burnham's leadership may shape the future of employment law in the UK. With many Employment Rights Act 2025 reforms still pending implementation, his track record as Greater Manchester mayor offers insights into potential policy directions. Will his commitment to 'good employment' principles signal further workplace reforms beyond the current legislative agenda?

United KingdomEmployment and HR

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Why Banning Unpaid Internships Is Good For Mums

For mums re-entering the job market after a career break, unpaid internships can pose a significant barrier. Many mothers face the challenge of re-establishing their careers...

United KingdomEmployment and HR

Spencer West LLP

One Incident Could Be Enough: New Harassment Duties From October 2026

From October 2026, UK employers will face significantly tougher legal obligations to prevent workplace harassment, including a new duty to protect employees from harassment by third parties such as clients and customers.

United KingdomEmployment and HR

BTO Solicitors LLP

In the Pipeline - September 2026

What employment and immigration law changes are coming in 2026 and 2027? From new unfair dismissal rights and extended tribunal time limits to enhanced harassment protections and trade union access requirements, this comprehensive guide maps out the key legislative reforms affecting UK employers and workers over the next two years.

United KingdomEmployment and HR

Travers Smith LLP

An Update On The Statutory Right To Be Accompanied At Disciplinary And Grievance Hearings

Workers have a statutory right to be accompanied at certain disciplinary and grievance hearings by a work colleague, trade union official or certified union representative.

United KingdomEmployment and HR

The Employment Rights Act 2025: Key Changes And Practical Guidance

The Employment Rights Act 2025 has been described as the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation. It contains a number of reforms, the breadth and complexity of which will have a significant impact on employers.

United KingdomEmployment and HR

Kingsley Napley LLP

The New Trade Union Right Of Access: What Employers Need To Do Now

From 30 October 2026, independent trade unions will gain statutory rights to access workplaces - both physically and digitally - regardless of existing union membership or recognition. With tight statutory deadlines for responding to access requests and penalties reaching £500,000 for repeated breaches, employers face a significant shift in how unions can establish themselves in previously non-unionised workplaces.

United KingdomEmployment and HR

Mishcon de Reya LLP

Increase To Normal Minimum Pension Age: What Now?

The UK government has published a technical consultation on transitional provisions for the increase in Normal Minimum Pension Age (NMPA) from 55 to 57, effective April 2028. The draft legislation aims to protect individuals aged 55 or 56 who have already taken steps to access their pension benefits, ensuring these payments remain authorized and avoid tax penalties.

United KingdomEmployment and HR

AI Judgment Day On The Horizon, While UK Lawmakers Play Catch Up

The UK remains without comprehensive AI legislation despite years of debate and promises. Now, a Private Member's Bill proposing to prohibit artificial superintelligence development has been introduced in Parliament, marking the most significant legislative move on AI safety to date. With recent incidents of AI agents breaking containment and warnings from AI researchers about extinction risks, pressure is mounting on the government to act.

United KingdomTechnology

European Commission Proposes European Innovation Act

The European Commission has unveiled a European Innovation Act designed to strengthen the EU's innovation ecosystem by addressing two critical challenges: limited access to finance for IP-rich businesses and fragmented regulatory frameworks across Member States. The proposal introduces measures including a common IP valuation framework, streamlined R&D procurement procedures, and harmonized regulatory sandboxes to help startups and scaleups commercialize their innovations more effectively.

European UnionStrategy

Employment Rights Act Timeline

The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces one of the most significant packages of employment law reform in decades, with measures taking effect at different points over the coming years.

United KingdomEmployment and HR

Game Developer And Publisher Battle Over Step In Rights

A High Court ruling examines a contentious dispute between a video game developer and publisher over milestone-based funding and "step in" rights for the first-person shooter Six Days in Fallujah. With over $50 million in development costs at stake and allegations of conspiracy to acquire proprietary source code, the court declined to grant either party interim control of the game's development, leaving both sides without the "keys to the kingdom" pending a full trial.

United KingdomLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration

Tightening The Reins: Hong Kong's New Moneylending Regulations And Their Implications

Hong Kong is introducing sweeping reforms to its unsecured lending market, targeting predatory practices that have long exposed vulnerable borrowers and innocent third parties to aggressive debt collection. The new measures, set to roll out in two phases starting August 2026, will impose debt servicing ratio caps on low-income earners, ban the use of loan referees, and mandate credit reporting through a centralised platform.

Hong KongConsumer Protection

What's Happening In Irish Immigration Law In 2026?

As 2026 begins, Ireland's immigration system is entering a period of significant recalibration, with new remuneration thresholds for employment permits, tougher family reunification rules...

IrelandImmigration

Hong Kong Cracks Down On Unpaid Wages With Director Sentencing

A Hong Kong director was sentenced to 120 hours of community service and ordered to pay HK$93,000 in outstanding wages after her companies failed to pay employees on time. The case demonstrates that corporate officers can face serious criminal liability, including fines up to HK$350,000 and three years' imprisonment, when employment law breaches occur with their consent, connivance, or neglect.

Hong KongEmployment and HR

Simplification Of Government Consultation Process – Sounds Good As Long As Consultation Is Still Adequate

The UK government's new consultation simplification plan aims to streamline stakeholder engagement, but could it create more problems than it solves? This analysis examines the potential risks of reducing formal consultation processes across tax, employment, and immigration policy, drawing parallels to historical policy failures and questioning whether speed without scrutiny truly represents progress.

United KingdomGovernment, Public Sector

European Commission Fines Temu €200 Million For Breaching The Digital Services Act

The European Commission has imposed a €200 million fine on Temu for failing to properly assess the risk of illegal products on its platform, marking a major enforcement action under the Digital Services Act.

European UnionConsumer Protection

Follow-up Right To Work Checks: Maintaining A Statutory Excuse When Using The Employer Checking Service

Employers conducting follow-up right to work checks face specific requirements when using the Employer Checking Service to maintain their statutory excuse against illegal working penalties. Understanding when and how to properly use the ECS, including the critical 'grace period' provisions and common documentation pitfalls, can mean the difference between compliance and facing civil penalties of up to £60,000 per illegal worker.

United KingdomImmigration