From Allies To Adversaries (Podcast)

The Court of Appeal has confirmed that vicarious liability owed to third parties does not transfer under TUPE. We explore the impact for both transferors and transferees.

Workplace falls remain a significant cause of injury across all sectors, with HSE data revealing that slips, trips and falls on the same level account for 30% of employer-reported non-fatal injuries, while falls from height continue to be the leading cause of fatal workplace accidents. Understanding the common hazards—from wet floors and obstructed walkways to unsafe ladders and unprotected edges—is essential for employers seeking to meet their legal duties and reduce the risk of serious harm.

The unfair dismissal regime is undergoing significant changes from 1 January 2027, removing the compensation cap and reducing the qualifying service period from two years to six months. Employers planning dismissals or redundancies before this deadline must carefully navigate the interaction between the 1 January cutoff and statutory notice periods, which can extend an employee's effective termination date by up to 12 weeks regardless of payment in lieu arrangements.

The government has recently launched a consultation on pay transparency proposals. Principally the government is seeking to ‘fix’ the equal pay system. Amongst the proposals, the government is consulting on whether employers should be required to include salary information in job adverts and to provide written salary information before an interview if the role is not publicly advertised. Ministers have argued that greater pay transparency will help candidates navigate the job market and that this could prevent future discrimination claims.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces one of the most consequential changes to the law of unfair dismissal since the right was first created. Whilst much attention has focused on the reduction of the qualifying period for bringing a claim, employers should be equally alert to another reform that could prove far more expensive: the removal of the statutory cap on unfair dismissal compensation.

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.

The autumn 2026 edition of the Reward update examines significant proposals to reform directors' remuneration reporting requirements, including changes to the DRR and removal of the annual shareholder advisory vote. It also covers FCA consultation on solo-regulated firms' remuneration, the impact of Employment Rights Act changes on share plans, equal pay reform proposals, and updates to AIM rules affecting corporate governance and remuneration disclosure.

Quality Compliance Systems (QCS) has formed a strategic partnership with Weightmans law firm to provide enhanced legal and compliance support to UK care providers facing workforce challenges, new employment legislation, and evolving regulatory requirements. The collaboration combines QCS's compliance expertise with Weightmans' specialist health and care sector legal knowledge to help care organizations navigate complex operational and regulatory environments. Together, they aim to deliver practical guidance

With the school holidays just around the corner every parent across the UK will this week no doubt mutter the words, “just watch, it will be raining constantly as soon as they stop school”, or words to that effect. That’s because as sure as night follows day, we can always rely on the sun to come out when “school’s in” and this year seems no different with temperatures on Monday and Tuesday in the high 20s and predicted to rise for the rest of the week- even in Manchester.

The Employment Tribunal has awarded an employee nearly half a million pounds after he accumulated 827 unpaid holiday days over his 37-year employment.

The Court of Appeal has confirmed that vicarious liability owed to third parties does not transfer under TUPE. We explore the impact for both transferors and transferees.

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.

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.

The Employment Rights Act introduces sweeping changes to UK employment law, from day-one unfair dismissal rights to restrictions on zero-hours contracts and fire-and-rehire practices. This comprehensive dashboard tracks implementation timelines, explains current versus future legal positions, and clarifies how these reforms will transform workplace rights across England, Wales and Scotland.

Privilege rules vary significantly across jurisdictions, so it’s important not to assume your home country position “travels”.

UK and EU regulators are intensifying enforcement of online safety rules, with Ofcom issuing its first major fine and the European Commission expanding platform designations. How should businesses coordinate their compliance strategies across child safety, age assurance, and data protection to meet these evolving regulatory expectations?

The Government's draft legislation for a new Securities Transfer Tax (STT), published on 13 July 2026, was a bit of a landmark. Tax advisers will tell you, with a mix of shame and pride, that we still occasionally have to refer to nineteenth century legislation. The Stamp Act 1891 remains the foundation of stamp duty payable on share sales. The whole law in this area is a patchwork of bits of legislation spanning more than a century.

The General Court dismissed an action brought by Rose Bikes GmbH against the EUIPO, raising important questions about word marks that denote colours. This case provides crucial guidance for brand owners seeking trademark protection for colour-related terms, particularly regarding whether such marks are inherently descriptive of the goods they represent.

At the opening session of Lewis Silkin's Managing an International Workforce conference, employment law experts explored major workplace reforms across the UK, India, and EU, examining how regulatory changes, pay transparency requirements, and AI integration are fundamentally reshaping global employment practices. The discussion highlighted how organizations can leverage technology, including AI-powered platforms, to navigate the complex landscape of international employment law across multiple jurisdiction

Employment law and immigration law intersect with discrimination protections in complex ways, particularly around right to work requirements and recruitment policies. This article examines how Irish employers can navigate these overlapping legal frameworks while managing the practical challenges of hiring non-EEA nationals who require employment permits.