Employment Law Changes Coming in 2025

2025 is shaping up to be a major year for employment law developments, with significant reforms expected under the proposed Employment Rights Bill. While details are still evolving, employers must start planning now to ensure compliance when the changes take effect. Key Reforms on the Horizon If passed, the Bill aims to enhance employment protections […]
Preventing Sexual Harassment at Work Events

From 26 October 2024, the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 places a new legal duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment. This applies to all work-related events, including social gatherings and celebrations. What’s Changing? If an employee successfully claims sexual harassment, tribunals can now increase compensation by […]
Important HR Considerations When Planning Work Events

Work-related social events are a great way to reward your employees and boost morale. However, these occasions come with important responsibilities for employers, even when events are held off-site and outside of working hours. Here are the key considerations to keep your event enjoyable, safe, and compliant: 1. Conduct a Risk Assessment Even at off-site […]
How to develop a strategic HR plan

A strategic HR plan is a roadmap that aligns human resources with overall business objectives. It is a key component of the overall business strategy and ensures that HR is focused on achieving the organisation’s goals by attracting, developing, and retaining the right talent and it therefore helps to: identify current and future talent needs develop […]
5 Key HR Actions to Protect Your Business in 2025

As we wrap up 2024, now is a good time to reflect and take stock of the employment landscape that lies ahead to ensure you are prepared to protect your business in 2025. With the Employment Rights Bill, and the soon to be published Equality (Race and Disability) Bill, we are expecting 28 different reforms […]
New Bill expected: Equality (Race and Disability) Bill

Anytime now, we can expect to see the publication of a new employment Bill, called the Equality (Race and Disability) Bill. Which, if it becomes law, will: place a legal duty on employers with more than 250 employees to carry out ethnicity (and disability) pay gap reporting extend equal pay rights to protect workers who […]
Over a third of women do not believe they receive equal pay to men

A recent survey commissioned by Acas, highlighted persistent gender pay disparities in the workplace. Despite legal requirements for equal pay, the findings reveal concerning perceptions of inequality. Below are the key figures from the survey and related information: 36% of women believe they are not receiving equal pay compared to men in their organisation, indicating […]
Low maternity pay found to not support families and to force new parents back to work early

Recent research from the charity Pregnant Then Screwed in collaboration with Women in Data, which gathered responses from 35,800 respondents, highlights the pressing issue of low statutory maternity pay (SMP) in the UK and examines its impact on new mothers and families. The key findings on the effects of SMP include: 43% of mothers return […]
Proposed changes to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and payroll processing

Upcoming changes outlined in the Employment Rights Bill would significantly affect payroll processing, particularly regarding Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). One of the most notable changes is the removal of waiting days. From now on, any absence due to incapacity will be treated as a period for SSP eligibility from day one. This simplifies payroll processing, […]
Employee Unfairly Dismissed Over Email Blunder

In the case of M Jones v Vale Curtains and Blinds, Jones, a part-time administrator at Vale Curtains and Blinds, was found to have been unfairly dismissed after mistakenly emailing a customer and referring to him as a “tw*t.” The tribunal determined that the dismissal was not warranted based on the circumstances surrounding the incident. […]
Police officer awarded £1.1 million in constructive dismissal case

In the case of Katrina Hibbert vs The Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, Hibbert was awarded over £1 million after her employer discriminated against her by withdrawing permission for a side business that supported her mental health while she was on sick leave. The circumstances Katrina Hibbert began her career with Thames Valley Police […]
Virtual Employment Law Seminar

Join HR Solutions virtually, for our annual employment law seminar to find out about recent and forthcoming changes to UK Employment Law in 2025.
Understanding pay implications of the Employment Rights Bill

In this webinar, we explored how the Bill’s provisions will impact wages and the budgeting implications for SMEs.
HR essentials for small employers

In this webinar we looked at how investing in HR can significantly reduce the risk of legal issues and tribunal claims for small businesses
The Role of HR in Employment Law Compliance and Claim Prevention

Human Resources (HR) is a powerful ally in maintaining legal compliance and preventing costly tribunal claims. From creating compliant policies to training employees, HR plays a vital role in protecting businesses from potential legal pitfalls. HR’s role encompasses several areas critical to risk management: Employment Law and Policy Implementation: HR keeps organisations updated on employment […]
2025 – The HR year ahead

In this webinar we looked to the future and consider the HR and employment landscape for the year ahead.
How the Autumn Budget 2024 Impacts Employers

Today, the Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered the new Government’s long-awaited Autumn Budget, highlighting how the Autumn Budget 2024 impacts employers through key changes in public finances related to employment. With the recent Employment Rights Bill already setting the stage for new employment law changes, this Budget focused on public spending policies that will directly […]
Update on the Employment Rights Bill: Public Consultations Open

You will know from our previous article, that the Employment Rights Bill has a long way to go before its implementation. Central to many of the reforms that are set out within it, is the process of public consultation. Public consultation seeks input from key stakeholders, whether this is from employees themselves, business, trade unions […]
Employment Rights Bill Implementation Timeline: What It Means for Your Business

The Employment Rights Bill is on the horizon, with several key reforms that will affect businesses of all sizes. Understanding the Employment Rights Bill implementation timeline is crucial for employers to ensure compliance and maintain fair practices in the workplace. Key Dates in the Employment Rights Bill Implementation: 21 October 2024: Second reading of the […]
New Legal Duty for Employers to Prevent Workplace Sexual Harassment

On 26 October 2024, a new legal duty will come into force, requiring all employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. This duty applies to businesses of all sizes and extends beyond the traditional office environment, covering any work-related setting such as conferences, training sessions, exhibitions, and even social events […]