HR Health Check

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

Recent UK employment law decisions have reshaped how employers must approach part-time worker protection, philosophical belief discrimination, freedom of speech in academic settings, and equal pay claims. These landmark cases establish new precedents for workplace policies, disciplinary procedures, and compensation structures that could significantly impact organizational practices.

In late January 2023, the UK Government published a draft Code of Practice on Dismissal and Re-engagement.

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.

On 30 July 2026, Acas published a fully revised draft Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures, marking the first comprehensive update since 2015. The proposed changes introduce significant new requirements around informal resolution, reasonable adjustments for disabled workers, and updated guidance on suspension, mediation, and the right to be accompanied at workplace meetings.

The UK Government has delayed implementation of a new employer duty requiring workers to be informed of their trade union rights until January 2027, while also confirming that companies must use a standardised...

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.

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.

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.

The UK Government is consulting on sweeping reforms to equal pay law that would introduce mandatory pay transparency in job adverts, reinstate statutory questionnaires for discrimination disputes, and create a new enforcement unit with investigative powers. These proposals, alongside recent tribunal decisions on union inducements, restrictive covenants, and discrimination protections, signal a fundamental shift in how employers must approach pay equity and workforce management.

On 30 July 2026, Acas published a fully revised draft Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures, marking the first comprehensive update since 2015. The proposed changes introduce significant new requirements around informal resolution, reasonable adjustments for disabled workers, and updated guidance on suspension, mediation, and the right to be accompanied at workplace meetings.

The Department for Education has introduced significant changes to the Academy Trust Handbook 2026, effective from 1 October 2026, strengthening expectations around governance, financial sustainability, procurement, inclusion, executive remuneration and transparency. This briefing note provides academy trusts with a comprehensive overview of the main regulatory changes and outlines the practical steps trustees, accounting officers and executive leaders should be taking now to ensure compliance with the new

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has issued new guidance consolidating existing requirements for Shared Ownership schemes in England. This comprehensive reference document brings together Homes England requirements, model lease provisions, and established market practices to provide greater consistency across the sector for lenders, landlords, and conveyancers.

The 2026 update to Keeping children safe in education introduces the most significant changes in years, requiring all schools to review their safeguarding policies and operational practices. Among the most substantive changes is the new requirement for all staff to read Part One in full, with the previously condensed version now withdrawn. The guidance introduces comprehensive new provisions for supporting gender questioning children through a safeguarding lens, establishing clear protocols for social trans

The 2026 update to Keeping Children Safe in Education introduces the most significant changes in years, requiring all staff to read comprehensive safeguarding guidance and implementing new requirements for online safety monitoring and mobile phone restrictions. Schools must now conduct annual filtering and monitoring reviews led by senior leadership, while creating mobile-phone free environments by default under new statutory requirements.

New guidance issued on 1st September 2026 fundamentally changes how Local Authorities can establish new schools in England, removing the free school presumption and allowing LAs to propose maintained schools alongside academies. What implications does this shift hold for religious schools, LA-controlled trusts, and the future landscape of state education provision?

The High Court examined whether an events company's use of prestigious brand names like VANITY FAIR and GQ on its website constituted trade mark infringement and passing off. The case centered on whether promotional references to exclusive invitation-only events crossed the line from legitimate identification to misleading consumers about a commercial connection with the trade mark owner.

Parents are increasingly using AI to draft complaints and legal correspondence against schools, but courts are growing concerned about AI-generated legal materials that contain inaccurate information, fabricated case references, and excessive text that obscures real issues. School leaders need to recognize the warning signs of potential legal claims hidden within AI-generated complaints and understand when to seek early legal advice.

Building owners and leaseholders now have access to expanded government funding through the Cladding Safety Scheme, which has been extended to include multi-occupied residential buildings under 11 metres in height. Applications for this targeted funding open on 17 August 2026 and close on 9 October 2026, with priority given to buildings presenting the most critical fire safety risks as assessed under the PAS9980 code of practice. Only the building's Responsible Entity can apply, and early submission is cruc

In Dobson v North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, the EAT has again determined that it is a matter of judicial notice that women are less likely to be able to accommodate certain working patterns...